The three Argentine defenders Barcelona are eyeing as potential signings | OneFootball

With Andreas Christensen out and Ronald Araújo on leave due to mental health issues, the squad led by Hansi Flick will need to make additions to the central defense, and for that, they are targeting Argentine players, two of whom are world champions.

In the midst of a Christmas and New Year break, Barcelona is already starting to move in the winter transfer market in Europe. In this regard, the portal Mundo Deportivo released a report about the players the Barça team has on its radar, especially to strengthen the central defense, considering the absences of Andreas Christensen and the indefinite leave of Ronald Araújo. On that list, among several names, are three Argentines, two of them world champions: Nicolás Otamendi, Marcos Senesi, and Juan Foyth.

In Otamendi’s case, he is 37 and seems to be approaching the twilight of his career. Nevertheless, he is a starter at José Mourinho’s Benfica and a key player due to his leadership and for wearing the captain’s armband. His contract ends in June 2026 and, for now, it is unclear whether he will renew.

With Senesi, the situation is similar, as his contract also expires in June next year. Likewise, he is 28 years old and has already played 170 matches in the Premier League wearing Bournemouth’s shirt under Andoni Iraola, one of last season’s and the current season’s revelations. His strong performances earned him a call-up from Lionel Scaloni to join the Argentina national team. His signing will not be easy, as Atlético de Madrid, managed by Cholo Simeone, is also reportedly interested in acquiring him, which would drive up the price for the native of Entre Ríos.

Juan Foyth has 149 appearances with Villarreal under his belt and convinces Barcelona thanks to his versatility, as he can play perfectly as a right-back and central defender. In addition, he has a more than decent ability to play out from the back, something that could attract the Catalan club.

Other names appearing on the list provided by Mundo Deportivo are Stefan de Vrij from Inter and Lautaro Martínez’s teammate, Diogo Leite, a 26-year-old defender from Union Berlin in Germany, Diego Llorente from Betis, and Luiz Felipe, who belongs to Rayo Vallecano.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.