Hansi Flick could find perfect left-footed center-back in 20-year-old Barcelona Atletic captain | OneFootball

The defensive debate at FC Barcelona has taken on a familiar tone. Injuries, short-term fixes, and transfer-market speculation have once again pushed the club toward the same crossroads it has faced so many times in recent years, whether to seek external solutions or look inwards.

With the back line stretched and Hansi Flick forced into improvisation, the noise around potential signings has only grown louder.

Yet beneath that noise, something quieter, and far more aligned with Barcelona’s identity, has been developing away from the spotlight. While attention shifts toward experienced names and market opportunities, one option has been building his case week after week without headlines, agents, or urgency-driven pressure.

According to SPORT, 20-year-old Zaragoza-born Alvaro Cortes is steadily becoming a compelling argument against Barcelona rushing into the transfer market. The left-footed centre-back from Barça Atlètic has been one of the reserve team’s most consistent performers, showing not just reliability but maturity that suggests he is ready for the next step.

Calm on the ball, positionally intelligent, and remarkably composed for his age, Cortes looks increasingly like a player shaped for Barcelona’s demands rather than one trying to adapt to them.

Signed from Zaragoza U-19 in 2021, Cortes progressed through the youth ranks with methodical patience. His early partnership with Sergi Domínguez in Juvenil B hinted at his ceiling, while a loan spell at Damm accelerated his development.

A serious injury stalled his momentum during the 2023–24 season, but rather than breaking him, it refined him. Last season, despite Barça Atlètic’s relegation, Cortes emerged as an undisputed starter and a leader. He is now the captain of the B team as well.

One of his standout performances came this summer in the Intercontinental U-20 final at the Maracanã, where he not only scored but delivered a masterclass in defending and building play from the back.

At 1.90m, strong in duels and gifted with a cultured left foot, Cortes rarely makes mistakes and reads the game with an authority that spreads confidence through the line.

Primarily a left-sided centre-back, Cortes brings exactly what Flick values in possession-based systems. With defensive absences mounting, his profile feels less like a gamble and more like a logical step.

Barcelona do not lack centre-back options; they lack continuity. Promoting Cortes would not just solve a problem; it would reaffirm a principle that appears lost to some. Sometimes, the most Barcelona answer is the one already wearing the badge.