Total peace of mind for Koundé at Barça

Jules Koundé is facing his fourth season as a player for FC Barcelona. The '23' landed at Camp Barça in the summer of 2022 and over time became the starting right-back for the Azulgrana team, despite being naturally a central defender.

The 26-year-old player finished the last season participating in 53 of the 60 matches played by the Catalan team. However, the emergence of Eric García at the end of the season began to change the plans for the Frenchman, who also needs to be dosed.

And, as has already been seen, the '24''s demonstration of hierarchy in that demarcation continues to be shown at the beginning of the 2025/26 season, as he has kept the starting position in the first matches of the season, that is, against RCD Mallorca and against Levante UD, matches won by Barça.

Despite this, the French defender, who could play as a starter in the next league match against Rayo Vallecano for Matchday 3 of LaLiga, would not feel discomfort or unease about Hansi Flick's technical decisions, as he knows that both the coach and the club are counting on him.

Koundé's injury in the final stretch of 24/25, a unique opportunity for Eric García

Koundé finished the last season on the limit. The defender, after accumulating a considerable amount of minutes, suffered a muscle injury in the biceps femoris of his left leg that forced him to stop in the most decisive stretch of the season.

This prevented him from playing in the last six official matches of Barça: five LaLiga matches and the crucial second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan, which ended in the elimination of the Catalan team.

This situation represented a great opportunity for Eric García, who had already played as a pivot and defender, his natural position. However, the level demonstrated as a right-back made him, in principle, Koundé's revulsive.

Barça's confidence in Koundé was consolidatedó with his contract extension

In this order of ideas, Barça's total demonstration of confidence in Jules Koundé was evident on August 21, when the extension of his contract. was officially announced

The right-back stamped his signature on a deal that links him to the Blaugrana club until 2030; initially, his link expired in 2027, but his consolidation in the aforementioned demarcation, which has earned him to become one of the best in his position, made the Catalan team secure his talent for three more seasons.

True to tradition, Barça celebrated the renewal ceremony in its central offices with the presence of President Joan Laporta, Sports Vice President Rafa Yuste and Sports Director Deco.

Jules Koundé, with nothing to fear at Barça

Koundé knows that the German coach is in favor of having two quality players per demarcation, so it is not a surprise for him that Eric García has started the season gaining prominence and that so far he has only had 18 minutes (13 against Mallorca and 5 against Levante) in the first two LaLiga matches.

Despite this, his good performances with the Barcelona team throughout the past season make him worthy of opportunities. And the '23' did not lose his starting position, but he must maintain the level demonstrated during the 2024/25 season, in which he scored 4 goals and provided 8 assists.

With Barça, Koundé has won two leagues (2022/23 and 2024/25), two Spanish Super Cups (2022/23 and 2024/25) and one Copa del Rey (2024/25). He won three of the five titles last season, that is, as an undisputed starter at that time.