FC Barcelona may be sitting comfortably at the top of the La Liga table with 49 points from 19 games, but Hansi Flick will be aware that his club is far from its peak and that there is still much room for growth.
So far this season, the Catalan club has struggled most with defensive concerns. The departure of Inigo Martinez in the summer has had a greater impact than they expected, and until recently, Flick struggled to establish his ideal central defensive partnership.
The German manager has stated that he is searching for another defender to strengthen the back line. In other words, Flick is pressing the club to sign a replacement for Inigo after failing to do so in the summer.
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According to Mundo Deportivo, Croatian gem Branimir Mlacic, who plays for Hajduk Split, has caught Barcelona’s attention. The 18-year-old is also receiving interest from other European powerhouses, including Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan, highlighting his talent.
The adolescent is signed with the Croatian club until 2029. In recent years, Hajduk has produced great central defenders, such as Luka Vušković, who went on to play for Tottenham Hotspur.
Mlacic could be the next apple from the orchard, albeit not yet ripe. He is still very raw and right-footed, and if Barcelona signs him, he may need to spend time in the reserves followed by a loan move before he is ready for the first squad.
Signing young prospects for the future is excellent, but Flick needs an experienced left-footed central defense now.
Let’s see if Deco and co. make a move in January to get him what he wants, or if Joao Cancelo’s anticipated arrival will be Barcelona’s sole winter signing.
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