According to reports, Balde’s injury in the coming weeks will temporarily worsen the team’s weakness in this position. Deco has turned the right-back position into the main priority for the summer transfer market.

Flick’s Barcelona, a team that has reached exhaustion after 50 games this season, now faces a problem at the full-back position, especially after Balde’s injury. Currently, the German coach is relying on Jules Koundé, who has played all games on the right side (with 4,835 minutes this season), and Gerard Martín on the left, due to Alejandro Balde’s muscle problems. Throughout the season, the coach has shown little trust in Héctor Fort, an 18-year-old player who is still inexperienced for the first team. Fort has only played 400 minutes.

Although this scenario has not yet occurred, there are doubts about how Flick will manage if Jules Koundé is absent from the right-back position. The same applies to Gerard Martín, who has performed beyond expectations, should any issues arise before Balde’s return. In any case, Fort is expected to be a backup option on both sides. Moving Araújo or Iñigo to full-back seems unlikely, especially for the Basque player, who manages the entire defense from the left center-back position.

Deco has highlighted the right-back position as a priority for next season’s Barcelona, which has now become a necessity. On the left, in addition to the good performances of Balde and Gerard Martín, the arrival of Jofre Torres from La Masía has been announced, a player with outstanding qualities at left-back. Deco must search for a player who can give Koundé rest on the right side, as it is unlikely Koundé can endure such heavy pressure for two consecutive seasons.