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Bastoni and Barça, internal doubts mark the operation

Hugo Fernández - 7 Nov 2026 | 16:20
FC Barcelona Alessandro Bastoni España Fichajes España

The FC Barcelona transfer market operation is cooling down

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Alessandro Bastoni cools down in FC Barcelona's transfer market.

The name of Alessandro Bastoni has been linked to the FC Barcelona transfer market for months. The Italian center-back was one of the priorities of the sporting management, and Deco worked on a possible deal. In fact, according to Mundo Deportivo, the blaugrana club had reached an agreement with the player for a contract until 2031, although final approval from Flick was still pending.

 

That last step never came. The German coach did not give the green light for the signing, and the deal cooled down. The information from Mundo Deportivo indicated that Flick had converted Gerard Martín into a center-back and preferred to allocate the available resources to other positions. The disagreement was not due to a lack of quality in the Italian, but rather Flick's doubts about whether he was the profile needed for his project.

The issue has resurfaced in the current planning. Deco still considers Bastoni an important alternative, but Flick remains hesitant. The coach is looking for a defender who meets the demands of his playing model and does not want the club to make a significant investment without being convinced that the player fits. Therefore, although the Italian is still on the list, his arrival cannot be considered assured.

The defensive urgency forces a decision in January

The scenario has changed since the summer. Flick decided then to rely on the available resources, but the circumstances have increased the need to bring in a center-back. Injuries have reduced the alternatives, and the coach has had to seek emergency solutions, even trying Frenkie de Jong in the central defense.

 

 

The problem became especially clear in recent weeks. As Flick explained before the match against Alavés, the team needed to find solutions because it had very few natural options for the center of the defense. The coach confirmed that he had spoken with Deco, Bojan, and his coaching staff about the possibility of strengthening that position: "If we can, we will."

Thus, urgency is no longer just a matter of medium-term planning. Barça needs depth, experience, and guarantees to compete during the second half of the season. However, this need does not mean that any signing will do. The sporting management will have to strike a balance between economic availability, market opportunities, and Flick's demands.

Gvardiol and Lukeba complete the list of candidates

Information from The Athletic positions Joško Gvardiol as the first option considered by Barcelona and notes that Castello Lukeba is also a player admired by the club. Both fit profiles that the entity considers interesting for strengthening the defense, although their respective contractual situations and the cost of a potential deal complicate any moves.

The context also includes the future of Alejandro Balde, for whom Barcelona would be willing to listen to offers. His potential departure could influence the planning of the defensive line and the resources available for a signing.

Thus, Barça faces January with a clear need, but with several decisions pending. Bastoni is still favored by Deco, although Flick's doubts keep the operation in question. Gvardiol emerges as the main reference and Lukeba as another valued alternative. The priority is to reinforce the center of the defense, but the coach does not want to repeat the scenario from last summer: signing without being sure that the chosen player is the right center-back.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Bastoni y el Barça, las dudas internas marcan la operación