Barcelona join Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund in race for 18-year-old Croatian defender – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona may be sitting comfortably at the top of the La Liga table with 49 points from 19 games, but Hansi Flick will know that his team is nowhere near its best level and there is still significant scope for improvement.

Defensive issues have been the major problem for the Catalan club so far this season. The exit of Inigo Martinez in the summer has affected them more than they had imagined, and until recently, Flick struggled to identify his preferred central defensive partnership.

The German manager has made it clear that he is looking for another defender to add to the back line. In other words, one can interpret this as Flick pushing for the club to sign a replacement for Inigo after they failed to do so in the summer.

Photo Credit: The official website of Hajduk Split

According to Mundo Deportivo, Croatian gem Branimir Mlacic, who plays for Hajduk Split, has emerged on Barcelona’s radar. The 18-year-old is also attracting interest from other European giants such as Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan, which underlines his quality.

The teenager is tied to the Croatian club until 2029. Hajduk have a track record of producing talented central defenders in recent years, with Luka Vušković making waves before securing a move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Mlacic might be the next apple from the orchard, albeit some way from being ripe. He is still very raw and right-footed, and if Barcelona sign him, he might need a stint with the reserves coupled with a loan move before he is first-team ready.

Signing developmental players with a view to the future is fine, but Flick has a more pressing need: an experienced left-footed central defender in the short term.

Let’s wait and see whether Deco & co. move in January to get him what he wants, or if the imminent arrival of Joao Cancelo will remain Barcelona’s only winter signing.