Hansi Flick has already identified a strong successor for Andreas Christensen following the defender’s serious ACL injury.
Barcelona’s defensive injury crisis has thrust Hansi Flick into a precarious balancing act, with the backline that powered their LaLiga summit charge now stretched to breaking point amid a brutal fixture pile-up.
Andreas Christensen’s long-term ACL absence, coupled with Ronald Araujo’s ongoing break and Jules Koundé’s hamstring woes, has forced uncomfortable rotations—midfielders repurposed as full-backs, youth prospects thrust into the fray, and tactical tweaks that risk exposing vulnerabilities against pacey attackers.
The Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Club looms large, demanding depth and reliability rather than heroism, while LaLiga’s relentless pace leaves no margin for error.
Flick’s high-line system, so devastating in transitions, craves left-footed centre-backs who can sweep, distribute, and read the game under pressure—profiles that command premium fees in January’s cutthroat market.
Yet, amid Financial Fair Play constraints and salary cap juggling, sporting director Deco hunts bargains that deliver immediate impact without mortgaging the future.
The player in question is Mika Mármol of Las Palmas, who Barcelona could reclaim as a La Masia graduate—for a laughable €3 million, leveraging their 50% rights stake in a market coup amid defensive desperation, as reported by Fichajes.
The left-footed defender’s tactical intelligence, ball-playing poise, and LaLiga seasoning make him Flick’s ideal rotational fit, adaptable across back-three or four-man lines without adaptation risks.
Mármol’s solid Canary Islands campaign underscores his reliability—organized, judicious, and versed in elite pressing—qualities Flick prizes for sustaining Barcelona’s style in crunch phases.
At €3 million—peanuts against €10-15 million market norms—this low-risk operation aligns perfectly with FFP realities, offering resale upside if he excels.
Winter markets rarely yield such gems—Flick’s green light signals intent to pounce, transforming peril into reinforcement. Should they strike, Mármol becomes the unsung hero stabilizing Flick’s machine for glory.
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