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4 weeks ago
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Barcelona are heading into the new season with an overbooking of centre-backs. The club boast the likes of Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi in the first team.
Not to mention, both Clement Lenglet and Eric Garcia are set to return after their respective loan spells. This has led Barcelona to consider the sale of a few of their centre-backs.
For a while, it was thought that Jules Kounde was not among the candidates to be sold in the coming summer. But the Frenchman has lately received interest from Saudi Arabian giants Al Ittihad and it appears the Catalans have not ruled out the player’s sale.
Here, at Barça Universal, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of Kounde’s potential sale for Barcelona this summer.
Pros of selling Kounde
The financial gain is the most obvious cue for Barcelona to sell Kounde this summer. The club’s economic woes have been well documented and the Frenchman’s sale, to that end, could help them bring in significant revenue.
Should Barcelona sell Kounde? (Photo by JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP via Getty Images)
At 25, Kounde has a lot of potential and has a high resale value. Barcelona can easily recoup the €50 million they spent on the player two years ago.
Saudi Arabian giants Al Ittihad, in particular, could be more than willing to cough up more than €50 million for Kounde’s services.
From a sporting perspective, Kounde wouldn’t be guaranteed a starting spot with such a crowded centre-back position.
Offloading him would free up playing time for other defenders, potentially promoting competition and development within the squad.
Cons of selling Kounde
On the flip side, the sale of Kounde could see Barcelona as one of the most talented young defenders in La Liga.
More than his quality, it is Kounde’s versatility that could be a big loss for Barça. Kounde is indeed a versatile defender who can play on the right or in the centre. Letting him go weakens the overall defensive depth and quality of the squad.
This is particularly important given the fact that Barcelona are unsure about the right-back position heading into the new season.
Can Kounde flourish under Flick? (Photo by JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP via Getty Images)
The club are keen on retaining the services of Joao Cancelo, but it must be noted that Hansi Flick is not entirely fond of the Portuguese international.
Barcelona have Hector Fort as an alternative, but the La Masia starlet barely has any international experience under his belt. Kounde, therefore, could be a handy option to have for coach Flick.
Not to mention, Kounde is young and has the potential to be a cornerstone of Barcelona’s defence for years to come. Selling him now could see Barça miss out on an excellent sporting opportunity.
Lastly, the former Sevilla starlet is fast and can offer defensive solidity in the full-back position – something Flick may welcome.
Indeed, the German likes his full-backs to be defensively competent and that is where Kounde could be an excellent option. It must be noted, however, that Flick ideally wants the defender to operate in a centre-back role.
Keeping these things in mind, Barcelona might be better advised not to get rid of the Frenchman this summer, even as the club desperately look to bring in fresh revenue.
