Barcelona set sights on 29-year-old former La Masia graduate – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona boast a strong and cohesive starting lineup, with a promising core built to last. However, squad depth, particularly in key defensive roles, remains a pressing concern. This shortfall became painfully clear during crucial fixtures like their clash with Inter Milan, where both first-choice full-backs were unavailable. It’s a gap that new manager Hansi Flick will be eager to address.

The Catalan club suffered a lot from this situation in an important part of the season, with both of their starting full-backs not being available against Inter Milan. This is one area in particular that Hansi Flick would like better depth in.

As per Fichajes, Barcelona have set their sights on 29-year-old Bayer Leverkusen defender Alejandro Grimaldo. The Spaniard has come through the academy at La Masia and has gone on to have a very successful career elsewhere.

Academy history

Alejandro Grimaldo compared to Gerard Martin and Alejandro Balde. (Source: DataMB)

Grimaldo has a number of very good seasons at Benfica before he moved to Bayer Leverkusen as a free agent. He immediately became an important player in Xabi Alonso’s team, holding his own on the left flank in the two succeeding seasons.

Now, it looks like the Spaniard might be yet another exit from the former Bundesliga champions, with Wirtz, Frimpong and the manager himself also expected to leave. The player has expressed his desire to play in Spain and a return to Barcelona could ensue.

In 48 games across all competitions, Grimaldo has scored four goals and provided 13 assists. Versatility is a key aspect of his game as he is equally comfortable playing both as a left-back in a back four and a left wing-back in a back five.

Grimaldo in a Barcelona jersey? (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)

Perfect solution!

Barcelona’s left-back situation is interesting. In Alejandro Balde, they have arguably one of the best left-backs in the world. However, his backup, Gerard Martin, is not quite at the same level and the club could do with an upgrade.

For Barcelona, securing Alejandro Grimaldo would be a savvy move, bolstering their depth with a seasoned and versatile left-back who already understands the club’s culture. With his expressed desire to return to Spain and uncertainty surrounding his future at Leverkusen, the stars may align for a homecoming this summer. Whether the deal materialises remains to be seen, but the fit appears nearly perfect.