Barcelona decide not to sign new players in key position with Flick to bank on existing options | OneFootball

As Barcelona gear up for the 2025/26 campaign, one department already stands out as overloaded, namely, the central defence.

Manager Hansi Flick will enter pre-season with six senior centre-backs at his disposal, prompting urgent internal discussions about hierarchy, rotations, and possible exits, reports SPORT.

The current roster includes Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia, and Jules Kounde.

Although Kounde has been used almost exclusively as a right-back, he remains a centre-back by trade and adds to the logjam in that department.

Cubarsi and Inigo will continue to lead

Despite the wealth of options, Flick has a clear starting duo in mind, which is Cubarsi and Martinez. The pair was among Barça’s standout performers in the latter half of last season and have earned their place at the top of the pecking order.

Their chemistry, consistency, and composure make them the logical first-choice pairing as pre-season begins.

Behind them, the battle for minutes will be fierce. Araujo and Christensen are both players of high calibre, but their future roles remain uncertain.

Pau Cubarsi will retain his starting place next season. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The Uruguayan’s form dipped last season due to fitness issues, while Christensen’s name has come up in summer exit rumours.

Yet, Flick appreciates the Dane’s versatility and professionalism, which could earn him valuable game time, especially in rotation-heavy phases of the season.

Garcia, on the other hand, is expected to start the season as an option, either as a central defender or as a right-back. Meanwhile, Kounde will continue operating at right-back.

No new signings, no Jonathan Tah

At one point, Jonathan Tah was being considered as a reinforcement, but with the German now officially joining Bayern Munich, Barcelona have abandoned plans to bring in any new centre-backs.

Flick is satisfied with the current group, trusting in their quality and depth. That said, the sheer number of centre-backs available means at least one departure could still materialise before the window closes.

This is because Flick will also promote one reserve centre-back to train with the senior squad during pre-season.

This means Barcelona could begin the summer with seven or even eight central defenders, a number that clearly suggests action will be needed to avoid stalling the development of both established players and youth prospects.