Hansi Flick will count on 23-year-old Barcelona star as a makeshift centre-back | OneFootball

Barcelona’s win over Mallorca last night brought out a world of positives for Hansi Flick and Co., who dominated the opening spell and did not have to toil after the opponents had two players sent off.

One of the players who partially appeared like a weak link on the night, however, was Ronald Araujo who started at centre-back alongside Pau Cubarsi.

While the player did not make any glaring defensive errors, his ball-playing was clearly evident as a massive downgrade to what Inigo Martinez brought to the table last season, and his over-aggression and average distribution raised some concerns.

The backup option

Barcelona’s financial situation does not permit the signing of a new centre-back as it stands, and while Hansi Flick would like a new player in the department, SPORT relays that he is making backup plans.

The primary backup plan that he has at the moment for the left centre-back position is to use Gerard Martin in the department if the need arises. After all, he is no longer favoured in the pecking order at left-back.

Gerard Martin will likely be used more and more as a CB. (Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images)

The rise of Jofre Torrents this summer earned him a debut against Mallorca last night and he could well provide competition for Balde in the department this season. With that department now filled, Martin’s best chances lie at centre-back.

Flick gave the young defender minutes as a centre-back in two pre-season games, and Martin did not disappoint in any capacity as he held his own at left centre-back.

As such, moving forward this season, the 23-year-old star is more likely to feature as a makeshift centre-back, rather than a left-back.

Apart from Martin, Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde are all options to start in central defence in place of Araujo should he not improve in the coming games, and the pressure is now well and truly on the Uruguayan.