Araujo, Christensen and Eric: a center on the exit ramp

The board of FC Barcelona is beginning to clear up its doubts regarding the 'overbooking' of center-backs in the squad. Hansi Flick has five players for this demarcation, without forgetting that Jules Koundé, established as a right-back, is also a natural center-back.

In that sense, considering the need to raise funds, Barça anticipates at least one departure in the central axis this summer. For now, only Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez have the label of non-transferable, the first as the center-back with the best projection in Spanish football with just 18 years and a season in the first team.

Cubarsí is one of the fundamental pieces of the new Barça and this is demonstrated by his performance in the 24/25 season, where he played 56 of the team's 60 matches in all competitions. Iñigo, for his part, became the leader of the defense after the arrival of Flick and Barça rewarded his great season by renewing him for one more year.

However, the club plans to extend the Basque player's contract until 2027, although the '5' will finish the 25/26 season with 35 years completed. In the previous year, Martínez scored 3 goals and 6 assists, his best year in terms of offensive production.

This is the situation of Araujo, Christensen and Eric at Barça

Hence, the consolidation of the Iñigo-Cubarsí duo casts doubt on the continuity of players such as Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Eric García. At least one of the three defenders must leave this summer to free up salary mass and generate income for the club. A couple of weeks before the formal opening of the summer market, this is the situation of the Uruguayan, the Danish and the Catalan:

📌Ronald Araujo: although the 'charrúa' had problems returning to his best level after the injury that kept him out for four months (between July and October), Barça still considers him a key piece. The '4' renewed in January until 2031, but he can leave for an affordable price (65 'kilos') during the first two weeks of July. For now, the Uruguayan does not plan to leave and is confident of regaining his starting place in the 25/26 season.

📌Eric García: the Catalan seemed destined to leave in January, but Flick convinced him to stay. The '24' was a great help to cover absences in the center of the field and the right side, responding to the coach's confidence with good performances as a pivot and left back, this in the last month of competition. His contract ends in 2026, so he must renew soon. 

📌Andreas Christensen: the Dane had very bad luck with injuries, missing practically the entire season due to muscular problems. Although Flick was satisfied with his performance in the 5 matches he was able to play in the final stretch of the 24/25 season, his salary (9 M€ gross per year) and the possibility of leaving for free in 2026 open the exit door for him. However, Arabia is for now his only likely destination and the '15' wants to continue playing in Europe.

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In addition to the departure of a center-back, the Barcelona board anticipates at least six or seven more departures during the summer market. The arrival of Joan García and the imminent signing of Nico Williams force the club to free up salary mass and generate income to register the reinforcements that arrive this summer. On the departure ramp, for now, appear:

1. Ter Stegen: the German will be a substitute after the signing of Joan García and the renewal of Szczesny. Galatasaray wants him, but there is still no formal negotiation in progress. The '1', in addition, insists on staying to fight for the starting position.
2. Iñaki Peña: the Alicante native also has no place in the squad with the arrival of the former Espanyol goalkeeper. Several LaLiga clubs have him on their radar and his transfer could be closed for less than 10 M€.
3. Héctor Fort: he was the defender with the fewest minutes played (710') in the 24/25 season after Christensen. Eric García will be Koundé's substitute and the '18', whose contract ends in 2026, is obliged to look for a team.
4. Gerard Martín: Flick is counting on him as Balde's substitute, but the interest of several English clubs could leave Barça with around 15 'kilos', enough to go for another left-back in the summer market (Alejandro Grimaldo, the favorite).
5. Pablo Torre: like Héctor Fort, the Cantabrian was condemned to ostracism by the tough competition in the azulgrana squad. A transfer with a repurchase option for less than 10 M€ seems sensible to let him leave.
6. Pau Víctor: the striker has a contract until 2029 and could go on loan to another LaLiga team. In the 24/25 season he counted little or nothing for Flick and, with Nico Williams in the squad, he has no option to stay.
7. Ansu Fati: another fixed discard of the coach since the beginning of 2025. The '10' is an economic burden for the club due to his high salary (14 M€ gross), this being the great obstacle to negotiate his loan. Monaco wants him, but is not willing to assume his salary.