Barcelona’s struggle against the “Big Boys” of Europe in the last few weeks of the season has put a question mark over their form this season. The Catalan giants have been flawless against regular LaLiga teams and weaker UCL opponents, but when the team needed their entire system to click at once, they have failed decisively.
Straight losses to PSG and Real Madrid have put major doubt on them being a definite candidate to win the UCL, and the primary reason for this sudden shift in momentum goes to their defense. With the high-risk, high-reward style Hansi Flick has employed with a high line, Barca’s defense was already under a lot of pressure.
Now, with injuries piling up one by one, their defense has started to crumble. The consequence? A shaky defense has started to put a lot of pressure on their forwards in the final third, and when those attackers fail to convert against tough defenses, Barca suddenly looks like a different team and most of the time has lost points.
The rumours about landing a new center-back in January have been going on for a long time now. In the last few weeks, the five-time UCL champs have been linked with an array of defenders around Europe, including Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.
However, Barcelona is also reported to be looking towards England as well to solve their defensive shortcomings and is rumored to be interested in 24-year-old Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie. Barca sporting director Deco is also said to be in contact with Hincapie’s agent.
Piero Hincapie joined Arsenal on loan last year after his stint with Bayer Leverkusen, where he also won the Bundesliga title as part of Xabi Alonso’s invincible campaign. While Hincapie played a handful of games last season, his performance impressed the club to an extent that they signed him on a loan-to-permanent deal.
The Premier League club paid around £34.5 million, along with add-ons, for the Ecuadorian defender on a five-year contract, making Hincapie an Arsenal player till 2031. A left-footed defender, Hincapie has been a promising talent around the European circuit in recent years.
Currently 24, Hincapie doesn’t just have a high ceiling, but has also shown great tenacity in 1v1 duels and handling pressure situations with poise, making him a perfect pair alongside Pau Cubarsi under Hansi Flick’s system. With injuries to Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen, Barca’s depth in the CB position is currently thin.
Hincapie’s inclusion can solve that caveat for the Catalan club from a long-term perspective as well. The Ecuadorian has been on Deco’s checklist for a few months now. Barca even showed keen interest in the player back in May, but due to the permanent sell clause that the Gunners had, the entire landscape around the two parties.
However, the situation remains no different, as the Ecuadorian’s contract with the North London club doesn’t have a release clause, which means that Arsenal will have a greater say in the negotiations if Barca makes contact with them for the defender.
