In light of the current sporting and economic problems at FC Barcelona, the club’s president and sporting sector believe it best to prioritize one arrival at a time, and thus it becomes complicated to value every possible acquisition or target.
As a result, while Barcelona maintain integrity when it comes to certain operations such as those of Vitor Roque, Arda Guler, and potentially Oriol Romeu, they are considering that some other positions may end up having to be forgone and unattended in the summer transfer window.
One such position is that of right-back. The club is aware that they currently do not possess the type of specialist fullback in that position that would be ideal to be integrated into the team.
Moreover, it is not certain either that a new arrival can be secured for said position, despite the Catalans maintaining interest in Real Valladolid fullback Ivan Fresneda and unwanted Manchester City fullback Joao Cancelo.
Accordingly, as per the information revealed by Sique Rodriguez and further confirmed by Diario AS, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has taken the liberty to address a certain central defender at Barcelona who was responsible for anchoring that right flank of the defense last season as well, Jules Kounde.
The Frenchman is by trade a central defender and that remains his forte and specialty. It is also something that reportedly caused tension at the club at one point, with speculation suggesting he even told the club to assess any transfer offers that may arrive for him as he wished to be deployed centrally, rather than as a fullback.
However, as per the report in question, Xavi has received a positive response from the 24-year-old defender who is reportedly willing to be deployed as a right-back due to the current situation requiring him to have to act as one.
If this update is to be found true, it is a prospect that is not to be confused with a lack of quality in said position or a lack of experience in the case of the Frenchman’s deployment there.
Kounde masterfully took over the right-back position last season and courtesy of his contributions alongside the rest of the team as a unit, Barcelona managed to emerge as the winners of La Liga with the best defensive stats in Spain, while simultaneously having broken multiple previous European defensive records.
