Barcelona defender’s exit seen as key to reducing the wage bill – report | OneFootball

Barcelona’s sporting department continues to work intensively to build a squad that improves on last season’s performance while also reducing the club’s wage bill.

The signing of Joan Garcia and the increasingly imminent payment of Nico Williams’s release clause align with this strategy. However, in order to register these incoming transfers, the club must also finalise some departures.

The sale of Alex Valle, the contract termination of Clement Lenglet, and most recently, the loan of Ansu Fati to Monaco, all serve this objective.

Barcelona’s goal, which is now within reach, is to reduce their overall salary bill in order to return to the 1:1 financial rule and regain full flexibility in the transfer market.

Andreas Christensen seen as the key

In this context, one name stands out in the club’s offices: Andreas Christensen, reports SPORT.

The Danish defender has endured a difficult season due to injury and has barely featured under Hansi Flick. He played only 259 minutes last season, spread across six matches – five of them during the final month of the campaign.

As far as Barça are concerned, the 29-year-old is understood to be on the exit ramp, owing to the overcrowding in the centre-back position.

With Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez locked into Hansi Flick’s plans, and Eric Garcia earning a renewal, the list of potential departures has narrowed to two names: Christensen and Ronald Araujo.

Will he stay or leave? (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Although Araujo has a release clause valid during the early days of July, current indications suggest he will remain at the club for another season. Flick values Araujo’s unique profile among the centre-backs, offering tactical flexibility – leaving Christensen staring at an exit.

Another factor working against the former Chelsea man is his high salary, which now ranks among the most disproportionate in the squad relative to playing time.

With Ansu Fati now out on loan, Christensen tops the list in terms of the inverse relationship between wages and minutes played. It is worth noting he arrived on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, which enabled him to negotiate a strong contract.

Christensen wants to stay

However, Christensen’s intention is clear: he wants to see out the final year of his contract in Barcelona and prove to Flick that he belongs in the current squad.

The Dane was seen training on Wednesday and Thursday at Ciutat Esportiva, having cut his holidays short and arrived several days before the official start of pre-season.

Despite lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, Christensen has ignored interest from the region. He also attracted attention from AC Milan, and Italy remains a possible destination if he decides to leave, as do the Premier League and La Liga.