Barca News Network
·1 March 2025
Barcelona duo on Atletico Madrid’s radar as Diego Simeone seeks key reinforcements – Report
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·1 March 2025
Despite the few changes that Hansi Flick has made in his starting line-up in the last few weeks, it is quite clear that the FC Barcelona coach has very clear ideas about his preferred starters, and over the course of the season, he has not altered a lot from his preferred line-ups.
The performances of the Blaugrana team justify Flick’s choices, but this situation also leaves some players without any hope for a place in the starting line-up.
This is particularly the case in the frontline, where Lewandowski, Yamal, and Raphinha are fixed starters, and also in the defence, which is composed of Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, and Balde.
As a result, Fichajes reports that two non-starters, one from defence and one from attack, will have options to leave the Catalan club next summer, as the Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone wants Andreas Christensen and Ferran Torres in his team for the next season.
The Blaugranes will be looking for several departures next summer, as they need income and freed up wage space to sign new players. Thus, they will be open to negotiating their sales.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
This will particularly be the case for the Danish defender, as his contract is set to expire in 2026, and as things stand, negotiations for a renewal have not yet started.
Furthermore, he is also unlikely to get an important role in Flick’s team, as Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi are the fixed starters in the centre of the defence, while Eric Garcia and Ronald Araujo are also fighting for minutes.
On the other hand, Simeone values the defender’s experience playing at the highest level and his skills, and believes his presence in the team will provide his backline with much-needed depth, as it has been facing problems due to injuries and lack of suitable replacements.
Meanwhile, Ferran Torres is having a more prominent role in the team, having already scored 11 goals and provided 3 assists, and his contract also goes till 2027. However, he is still not expected to get a regular starting spot at Barcelona any time soon.
On the other hand, he will be an ideal player for Diego Simeone, particularly for his ability to play across the attacking line.
However, whether this operation goes forward will depend on the demands of the Catalan club, but the Colchoneros will be keeping a close eye on them in the coming weeks and months.
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