#fc-barcelona

#fc-barcelona

Jules Kounde did not travel with Barcelona to Valencia for last night's clash in La Liga and thus missed the team's final game of the season. Eric Garcia started at right-back in his place, with Xavi Espart coming on for a second-half cameo, and the development only adds weight to the worry around the Frenchman's performances. Kounde, after all, has been on an undeniable decline all season and has looked dull both on the field and off the field. In fact, he was the first to leave even after the team's celebratory dinner earlier in the week.

While the club are majorly relying on the sale of a few first-team stars to generate revenue, Barça also hold a series of clauses for their former players, such as Oscar Mingueza, with the club owning 50% of the player's transfer rights. However, as we approach the end of the season, it appears Barcelona could face a major setback as Mingueza may leave his current club as a free agent.

Barcelona Atletic forward Hamza Abdelkarim has been handed a call-up to the Egypt squad for World Cup 2026. The Barcelona Atletic forward only arrived in Catalunya in the winter transfer window and is now celebrating being included in the Pharoahs' roster for this summer's tournament. Abdelkarim will also become the first Egyptian Blaugrana to play at a World Cup.

Not so long ago, it would've been unthinkable to have a Barcelona starting XI without Frenkie de Jong in it. The Dutchman has often been the conduit from defence to attack, dovetailing brilliantly with his midfield colleagues in so doing. However, injuries that have kept him out of the side for longer than he would've liked have opened up opportunities for others. Hansi Flick has a plethora of midfield options to choose from depending on the opponent, and whilst De Jong could well be utilised in certain games, at the back end of this season, for example, his absence has been striking.

With the club looking for a new left-footed centre-half, the Italian international generated consensus within the club. An operation for the 27-year-old seemed to be on track as well, with the player keen on the switch. In recent days, however, multiple reliable sources have confirmed that Barcelona have halted their pursuit of Bastoni. Hansi Flick's doubt about the defender's profile has been suggested as the reason for it.