Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has reportedly told Jules Kounde that he’s no longer first choice at the club at right-back.
Kounde has switched from a central role to right-back during his time at Barcelona but lost his place to Eric Garcia at the end of last season.
Flick has now spoken to Kounde about the coming campaign and told him that Eric is his No. 1 for the right-back spot, per Catalunya Radio.
The France international has also been told that he is more likely to play at center-back this this season
but he won’t be first choice there either. Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin are the preferred pairing currently, with Andreas Christensen also a back-up option.
There have been rumors about a potential exit for Kounde throughout the summer, although he did his best to play down talk of a move at the World Cup.
“I have a contract until 2030. In my mind, that’s quite clear,” he said in June. “With the French national team, those things come second. I’m focused on the competition until further notice. I’m at Barça and I hope to stay there.”
Yet the rumor mill simply won’t give up on this one and, with just about a week left in the window, it seems Kounde’s future at Barcelona is once again being talked about.
