In the summer of 2022, FC Barcelona were keen on reinforcing their defensive line, and amongst those being targeted, Danish defender Andreas Christensen was the chosen one.
The ex-Chelsea player showed consistently good levels at his previous club in London, and alongside Antonio Rudiger was one of the mainstays in their defensive line. While both became free agents around the summer transfer window of last year, Real Madrid went for the German International Rudiger, while Barcelona hedged their bets on the Danish International Christensen. As of today, it is a fair evaluation to suggest both teams were able to strike incredible bargains.
Only 26 years old and hitting his best years ahead of him, Andreas Christensen arrived to Barcelona already being a UEFA Champions League winner with Chelsea as well as having the attributes that are most important to succeed as a Barcelona player in particular.
Great possessional abilities, a solid passer of the ball, fearless in transitioning the ball from back to front, and being composed and collected throughout the game, Andreas Christensen possessed all the traits of a pure Barcelona player, despite not even being from their own academy.
Moreover, it was revealed officially by Barcelona as well that the Dane had always been a fan of the Catalans since a very young age, and has followed La Blaugrana since a long time.
Now, hitting his best strides in the Barcelona outfit, Andreas Christensen is showcasing his best levels yet. These qualities and his consistency with them was also on display during Denmark’s rather short-lived World Cup run, where the defender was still one of the standout performers for his country.
Especially since the resumption of club football following the International Break, its become apparent just how vital the Dane can be to this new-look Barcelona side. His performances since his arrival may not have always been the flashiest, but they have been consistently resounding, showcasing both maturity and character when called upon.
Even as Araujo and others took most of the spotlight from matches such as the one against Atletico Madrid, Andreas Christensen held his own and nullified a number of potentially dangerous Atletico Madrid attacks all by himself as well.
Donning the number 15 at Barcelona, there is much potential to be unlocked from within Christensen during his stay here at the club, and it will be interesting to follow his progression within the team and how he shapes his future in it with both quality and quantity of solid defensive displays.