Hansi Flick moves swiftly to address Barcelona’s defensive woes with a pinpoint answer amid mounting injury concerns.
Andreas Christensen’s long-term absence exposes familiar frailties, with Deco scouting external fixes while internal reshuffles like Eric Garcia’s central shift, Marc Bernal’s midfield role, Gavi’s February return, and Ronald Araujo’s December 29 comeback offer temporary patches in a squad starved for continuity.
Yet amid the market frenzy, a homegrown beacon emerges from Barça Atlètic, embodying La Masia’s patient ethos without agents or hype— a left-footed defender whose composure, intelligence, and leadership quietly build a case against winter panic buys.
At 1.90m with duel-winning strength and cultured ball-playing, this prospect reads games like a veteran, thriving in possession systems Flick cherishes, having captained the reserves through relegation and shone in high-stakes youth finals like the Maracanã U-20 Intercontinental showdown.
Promoting him reaffirms Barcelona’s DNA, solving the crisis without compromising identity or budget in a window ripe for regretful splurges.
That solution is 20-year-old Barcelona Atlètic captain Alvaro Cortes, whom Hansi Flick has found as the perfect left-footed centre-back to anchor the defence crisis, per Diario Sport reports, highlighting his steady ascent from Zaragoza U-19 roots.
Signed in 2021, Cortes overcame a serious 2023-24 injury to become an undisputed starter and leader, partnering early with Sergi Domínguez before a Damm loan honed his edge.
Cortes’ masterclass in the U-20 final—scoring while orchestrating from deep—underscores his fit: calm distribution, positional nous, and rare errors for his age, ideal for Flick’s build-from-back demands.
Primarily left-sided, he injects balance where Barcelona lacks it, spreading confidence without the adaptation risks of imports.
The club boasts centre-back depth but craves reliability; elevating Cortes aligns principle with pragmatism, sidestepping market pitfalls.
As external noise swells, this Zaragoza-born gem proves the Barcelona way endures—nurturing talent already in the badge over fleeting fixes.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
