Deco activates the signing of Pubill

The sporting director of FC Barcelona, Deco, has identified Marc Pubill, a 23-year-old defender from Atlético de Madrid, as a priority target to strengthen Hansi Flick's defense ahead of the January transfer market. The main aim of Barcelona's signing in the winter market is a top-level center-back.

According to El Nacional, the Catalan technical staff values the player's versatility, standing at 1.90 meters tall, to perform both as a center-back and a right-back. However, at the Metropolitano, the football management led by Mateu Alemany and Diego Pablo Simeone considers him a key piece of their project and will demand a significant financial outlay to entertain any negotiations with direct rivals.

🚨 Barcelona sporting director Deco has identified Atletico Madrid defender Marc Pubill as a potential signing. The 1.90m-tall defender can operate at centre-back or right-back, offering Hansi Flick greater defensive flexibility. Atletico consider Pubill essential to Diego Simeone's plans and would demand a substantial fee to consider selling him. (Source: @elnacionalcat)

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The ideal tactical partner for Pau Cubarsí and the solution to two positions for Hansi Flick

The sporting management at Spotify Camp Nou aims to provide its defensive line with greater physical strength and individual duel capacity on big European nights. The height of 1.90 meters for the Catalan defender, combined with his agility to cover open spaces due to his experience on the flanks, would complement Pau Cubarsí's associative qualities and anticipation, allowing Hansi Flick to create a balanced tandem against aerially dominant forwards.

Furthermore, Pubill's versatility would allow the German coach to reorganize the defense on the fly without needing to rely on out-of-position academy players, being able to start as a center-back and shift to right-back during the match. This ability to assume hybrid roles would provide depth in a part of the calendar where injuries and fatigue from the UEFA Champions League often coincide.

Mateu Alemany and Atlético de Madrid halt any transfer at a reduced price

Despite Deco's firm interest and the player having been on the azulgrana radar during his time at UD Almería, the main obstacle lies in the unwavering stance of the Atlético Madrid board. Mateu Alemany has made it clear that the Colchonero team will not facilitate the departure of a defender with a long-term contract to a direct competitor in LaLiga unless a financial proposal that dramatically exceeds his usual market valuation is made.

Pubill has earned Simeone's trust due to his defensive aggression, speed in retreat, and consistency, establishing himself within the Metropolitano's plans as a piece for both present and future. The economic department of the azulgrana club is assessing whether they have the necessary maneuvering room to formalize a significant offer before the end of the year.

Preliminary contacts between intermediaries will take place during the first two weeks of December 2026. If the Atlético de Madrid management agrees to set a viable transfer price, FC Barcelona will open formal talks to try to sign Marc Pubill at the opening of the January 2027 transfer market.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Deco activa el fichaje de Pubill