Defending La Liga champions Barcelona have endured defensive instability this season, largely due to persistent injury problems. Despite recovering strongly to climb to the top of the table under Hansi Flick, the Catalan giants are now facing renewed concern at the back.
With Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo sidelined for an extended period, Barcelona’s injuries have forced the club to explore reinforcements during the winter transfer window — and three Argentine defenders have emerged as key options.
Argentine Defenders on Barcelona’s Radar
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are actively monitoring Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Senesi, and Juan Foyth as potential solutions to their defensive issues.
Veteran World Cup winner Nicolas Otamendi, now 37, remains a commanding presence at Benfica, where he also serves as captain. Although he is nearing the twilight of his career, his leadership and experience continue to stand out. His contract runs until June 2026, with no confirmation yet on an extension.
Marcos Senesi, meanwhile, has impressed consistently in the Premier League with Bournemouth. The 28-year-old centre-back’s form has earned him recognition from Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. However, Barcelona may face competition, with Atletico Madrid also reportedly interested — a factor that could drive up his price.
“𝑩𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒂 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑶𝒕𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕,” 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒃.
Foyth’s Versatility and Other Options
Juan Foyth adds a different dimension to the shortlist. The Villarreal defender has made 149 appearances for the Spanish side and is valued for his flexibility, operating comfortably as both a right-back and a centre-back. His composure in building play from the back aligns well with Barcelona’s philosophy.
“𝑭𝒐𝒚𝒕𝒉’𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏,” 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒅.
Beyond the Argentine trio, Barcelona’s Injuries have also prompted the club to consider alternatives, such as Inter’s Stefan de Vrij, Union Berlin’s Diego Leite, Real Betis defender Diego Llorente, and Rayo Vallecano’s Luiz Felipe.
As injuries continue to test squad depth, Barcelona’s January window could prove decisive in maintaining their title charge.
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