{"id":31044,"date":"2025-08-25T21:36:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T19:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weisetech.dev\/fc-barcelona-noticias\/en\/the-imposing-defender-of-the-youth-team-who-aims-for-the-first-team-of-fc-barcelona-who-is-he_314390_102\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T11:40:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T10:40:25","slug":"the-imposing-defender-of-the-youth-team-who-aims-for-the-first-team-of-fc-barcelona-who-is-he_314390_102","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fcbarcelonanoticias.com\/en\/fc-barcelona\/the-imposing-defender-of-the-youth-team-who-aims-for-the-first-team-of-fc-barcelona-who-is-he_314390_102.html","title":{"rendered":"The imposing defender of the youth team who aims for the first team of FC Barcelona: who is he?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The young left-footed center back from the youth team is catching Hansi Flick’s attention. Will this be his opportunity in the first team?<\/h2> \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n Calendar of FC Barcelona <\/a>\r\n<\/div>

At FC Barcelona<\/strong>, while it doesn’t seem to be an absolute priority, the board maintains the expectation of strengthening the defense with a left-footed defender<\/strong>. After the departure of I\u00f1igo Mart\u00ednez<\/strong>, who went to Al Nassr<\/strong> of Saudi Arabia, the Azulgrana team was left with several good-level options, but none with a left-footed profile.<\/p>

Faced with this scenario, the coaching staff is analyzing different alternatives to cover that gap in the defense. A provisional solution has been Gerard Mart\u00edn<\/a>, whom Hansi Flick<\/strong> lined up as a left-footed center back in the preseason and who could add minutes in that position throughout the season.<\/p>

What if the solution to this problem was in the youth academy? Everything points to yes. In Bar\u00e7a Atl\u00e8tic<\/strong> there is a player who strongly attracts attention and is positioned as a viable option to reinforce the left side of the defense: \u00c1lvaro Cort\u00e9s<\/strong>, a 20-year-old who has been shining in the U-20 Intercontinental Cup<\/strong>, where he was an undisputed starter forming a partnership with Andr\u00e9s Cuenca<\/strong>, another left-footed center back.<\/p>

\u00c1lvaro Cort\u00e9s: power, technique, and goal for the Azulgrana defense<\/h2>

In the final against Flamengo<\/strong>, played at the Maracan\u00e3<\/strong>, Cort\u00e9s<\/strong> delivered an outstanding performance. He showed himself as a center back with great physical presence, powerful lower body, and 1.89 meters tall<\/strong>, a condition he knows how to take advantage of. In fact, in that same match, he converted a goal from the air, surpassing all his markers.<\/p>

pic.twitter.com\/SuJ775seEA<\/a><\/p> \u2014 Follow @arsenkvefcb (@AKFCBVideos) August 23, 2025<\/a> <\/blockquote> <\/div>

Cort\u00e9s, a consolidated center back in Bar\u00e7a Atl\u00e8tic who seeks to make the leap to the first team: will he make it?<\/h2>

Beyond that final, \u00c1lvaro Cort\u00e9s’s<\/strong> performance is no coincidence. Hansi Flick<\/strong> called him up on several occasions to train with the first team during the 2024\/25 season, even being called up for the match against Celta de Vigo<\/strong> on matchday 14 of LaLiga<\/strong>. His progress was only hampered by the overbooking<\/em> of defenders in the first team<\/a>.<\/p>

During the past season, the Zaragoza native consolidated himself as one of the pillars of Bar\u00e7a Atl\u00e8tic<\/strong>, standing out not only for his imposing physique but also for his tactical intelligence<\/strong>, ability to anticipate and cut plays, and firmness in one-on-one situations. In turn, he is a neat player in the ball output<\/strong>, with the personality to lead the defense despite his youth.<\/p>