Barcelona Faces Full-Back Crisis Again

Mundo Deportivo has shed light on the ongoing crisis of full-back positions at Barcelona, confirming that the issue persists despite the passage of years, coaching changes, and transfer windows. The newspaper noted that the Catalan team has yet to find the ideal solution for this position, which was a key element during the club's best periods. Historically, Barcelona has boasted top-level full-backs such as Jordi Alba, Eric Abidal, Dani Alves, Xavi Ferrer, and Sergi Barjuan, who combined defensive quality with the ability to create offensive threats from the flanks. The paper believes that this level is no longer available in the current team. On the right side, Barcelona successfully converted Jules Koundé from a center-back to a full-back, a move described in the report as spontaneous but highly successful, as the French defender adapted well to his new role and delivered strong performances. On the left side, Alejandro Balde was given the opportunity, but according to Mundo Deportivo's assessment, he has not provided the positive contribution that Barcelona needs, particularly in terms of defensive strength and offensive effectiveness in runs, crosses, and shooting. The newspaper also considered that relying on João Cancelo represents a more temporary solution than a long-term project, especially given his advancing age, noting that Barcelona needs to seriously consider signing a world-class left-back before the season starts if they want to compete strongly for the UEFA Champions League title. The report concluded that the full-back issue has become a chronic crisis within the club, and the continuous reliance on deploying players in non-native positions is not the optimal solution.