Barcelona defensive talent focused on staying at club despite growing interest | OneFootball

Alvaro Cortes has attracted increasing interest from clubs across Spain and Europe, but the young defender remains fully committed to continuing his development at Barcelona, repors Mundo Deportivo.

Several clubs from both La Liga and Segunda Division, as well as teams from other European leagues, have already made enquiries about the centre-back after his impressive performances for Barça Atletic and his breakthrough into the first-team environment.

Despite the growing external interest, those close to Cortes insist there has been no change in his plans.

The defender believes Barcelona remains the ideal environment to continue both his footballing and personal development, and he has no intention of forcing a move away.

Flick wants to assess Cortes

Flick will take a closer look a Cortes. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Barcelona have included Cortes in the squad for pre-season, which begins on 13 July, and the club currently has no intention of allowing him to leave.

Head coach Hansi Flick wants to evaluate the defender closely during the summer before making any decisions about his immediate future.

Although the opportunity to impress is there, competition for places in central defence is extremely strong.

At present, Flick has a wealth of options, including Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, who recently agreed a contract extension, and Gerard Martin, who also featured as a centre-back during parts of last season.

Moreover, Barcelona have not ruled out signing another central defender before the transfer window closes, which would further increase competition for minutes.

Alvaro Cortes not considering an exit. (Picture credit: Instagram/@alvaarocortes)

Inside the club, there is considerable confidence in his long-term potential. Barcelona see Cortes as a player capable of becoming an important part of the first-team project in the years ahead, provided his development continues on its current trajectory.

Patience could be key

Cortes understands that breaking into Barcelona’s senior squad requires patience, especially given the depth currently available in his position.

For now, his focus is on taking advantage of the opportunity to impress Flick during pre-season and demonstrating that he deserves a place in the club’s future plans.

However, while Barcelona are not actively considering his departure at this stage, a loan move has not been ruled out.

Should first-team opportunities prove limited for the coming season, a temporary spell elsewhere could become the best option to ensure the young defender continues to gain valuable senior experience.