Barcelona is taking important measures to stabilise the squad for the long term, and sporting director Deco is leading the way with a consistent strategic approach, referred to as the ‘shield operation.’
According to Mundo Deportivo, the urgent priority is to renew contracts either already set to expire in 2026 or are near expiry, particularly those players whose contracts are in their concluding stages and will conclude in the 2024-2025 season.
The objective is to renew contracts expiring in 2026 and stop the club from navigating next season with key players in their final contract year, as per the instructions of club president Joan Laporta.
This will also retain the core group of players, while managing the financial situation the club currently finds itself in.
In defence, Inigo Martinez, Eric Garcia, and reserve player Andres Cuenca are a focus of all consideration as their contracts are nearing a point at which they have critical points to them.
Martinez is expecting a one-year extension of his contract renewal, while both Garcia and Cuenca need to be quickly informed of their positions.
The club is unsure about Andreas Christensen, whose future remains uncertain, and they may look to sell in the summer.
In midfield, Frenkie de Jong is key to the shield operation; last extended in 2026, expressed desire to remain at the club, and with their work together, making contract negotiations smooth.
He is now fit and can manage daily interactions and work with others.
Unlike Torre, Robert Lewandowski has strong support and the notion of a secure job, for now, may keep him in good spirits.
The role of Deco cannot be overstated with Barcelona’s stringent finances, as any extension now can avoid a bad result later.
Intending to extend a number of players’ contracts, they are proving they want to keep the existing players competitive without spending large sums on transfer fees.
Laporta’s order to extend contracts and keep stability within all positions doesn’t allow any player to start the 2025-26 season without some clarity over their future.
As negotiations commence, the fans can expect a consolidated approach that limits any move away from Barcelona by some of their backbone players while creating a strong, cohesive unit in upcoming seasons.
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