Barcelona boss Hansi Flick spoke to the press on Wednesday and was asked about two big topics in the final week of the transfer window: Barça’s hunt for a No. 9 and the possibility of signing another defender.
The coach was asked about Julián Álvarez who still hopes of joining the club while Atlético Madrid continue to block any chance of a move to Camp Nou, and Flick declined to speak about Álvarez and instead chose to praise the club and sporting director Deco for the work made in other areas to strengthen
the squad this summer.
“The president has already made it clear and Deco and I agree with what he said. That’s all I can say. I don’t want to talk about Julián, I want to talk about the club’s situation. We’ve made some very good signings. The club needs to think about the future. As the coach, I ask for the best and more, but then it might work out or it might not. I have confidence in the team, and we’ll have to manage things, find solutions for some matches. But our quality is enormous. The club and Deco are doing a great job for the next three or four years.”
It seems Flick is aware that the signing of Álvarez is virtually impossible and is happy to move on without signing another forward, thinking there’s enough depth in attack already to begin the season before going back to market in January if an opportunity arises.
Hansi also spoke about the defense and suggested there won’t be any more signings at the back since Alejandro Balde is likely to stay and the coach is happy with his current center-back options.
“I think we’re fine with the back line we have now. We also have other options. Eric, Jules, Gerard… they can change positions. And Andreas and Gerard played very well. And we have Cubarsi, who is one of the best center-backs, and I want to take care of him. He’ll play a lot of games again; he wants to play. He’s young, he just won the World Cup, he was named best young player… I’m very happy to have him.”
Flick’s answer won’t please the fans who want a center-back signing, but the coach is trusting his young players and his own ability to develop them. Gerard Martín clearly still has room to grow as a full-time central defender, Álvaro Cortés will stick around and also has shown a lot of potential, and Jules Kounde wil also get his much-desired chance to play more minutes as a center-back this season.
So unless there’s a major U-turn in the Julián Álvarez situation or a mind-blowing offer for one of the defenders arrives in the next week, there won’t be any more signings this summer. And Flick seems very comfortable with that reality.
