Hansi Flick demands two key signings for Barcelona in January, issuing an ultimatum to Deco to salvage the squad’s faltering season.
With Pau Cubarsí adapting admirably but struggling on his non-dominant side, and Eric García, Ronald Araujo, and Andreas Christensen lacking left-footed balance, Flick insists on a specialist to elevate build-up play and offside trap execution.
Fichajes reports the plea has reached Joan Laporta’s desk, prioritising winter or summer reinforcement amid recent defensive wobbles like the Real Sociedad draw.
That demand centres on a left-footed central defender, Flick’s “key piece” to unlock predictable ball progression under pressure.
Iñigo Martínez’s Saudi exit exposed the void—Gerard Martín’s emergency shifts suffice for rotation but falter in high-stakes games.
Hansi Flick seeks pace, strength, composure, and vision for his high-line system, rejecting stopgaps for a leader to mentor youth like Cubarsí.
Flick’s shortlist features elite targets: Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni for elite vision, Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck with a €60m clause, Nottingham Forest’s Murillo, and Sporting CP’s Gonçalo Inácio.
Financial Fair Play limits January feasibility, but Laporta eyes viability via sales like Casadó or Peña, with Deco scouting aggressively.
Bastoni demands Inter negotiations; Schlotterbeck suits FFP better amid Bayern Munich and Real Madrid rivalry.
Recent Sociedad vulnerability—high presses stifling diagonals—spurred urgency. Flick praises Cubarsí’s half-season but needs diversity alongside him; Christensen’s ACL woes and Araujo’s morale dips amplify.
A left-footer creates natural angles, reduces transition risks, bolsters La Liga lead, and Champions League push. Laporta knows success hinges on compliance—trophies demand tactical edges.
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