Xavi Espart’s injury in Barcelona’s El Clasico defeat has created another selection problem for Hansi Flick, with the young defender expected to miss close to two months.
Although Jules Kounde is approaching a return, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen still remain available, adding to Espart’s now-confirmed absence.
As such, the Barcelona manager may need to turn to the youth and reserve teams for additional defensive cover while his squad works through a demanding run of fixtures.
Flick has already roped in Alex Campos as defensive cover for the last couple of matches while Orian Goren was in the squad for the Clasico to provide cover in midfield.
Building on that, here are five more young Barcelona talents who the first-team manager could turn to in order make up for the absences in the defensive unit.
Landry Farre
Landry Farre happens to be one of the most natural options for additional right-back cover for Flick. The 19-year-old youngster has previously been in the first-team dynamics and is currently one of the captains of Barça Atletic.
Although he is primarily a right-back, Farre has mostly operated at left-back this season and can play across all four defensive positions.
Landry Farre (L) has previously worked with the first team. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
He featured at centre-back in his most recent match for the reserve team, and has even scored twice this season. His physical attributes could make him useful if Flick needs a more robust defensive presence.
Guillem Victor
Another pick to reinforce the defensive line, Guillem Victor, the brother of former Barcelona player Pau Victor, has featured on the right side of defence in every match this season.
The 19-year-old also happens to be a part of the leadership group for Barça Atletic and has registered one assist from eight games.
His versatility and previous experience in midfield make him a particularly relevant candidate, with his profile considered the closest to Espart’s.
Jordi Pesquer
Considering that Espart has largely played at left-back this season, Jordi Pesquer would be another name to watch if Flick decides to strengthen that side of the backline.
The defender took part in Barcelona’s first-team pre-season preparations before returning to divide his time between Juvenil A and Barça Atletic.
The 17-year-old starlet has played twice for the reserve team so far this term and also has a couple of appearances in the UEFA Youth League with Juvenil A.
Josue Caicedo
Josue Caicedo joined Barcelona in the summer. (Picture credit: Instagram/@josue_caice19)
Another option on the left side of the defence, Josue Caicedo joined Barcelona in the summer and has made a solid impression so far.
Signed from LDU Quito in Ecuador on loan with an option to buy, he had to deal with an injury early on in the season, but has played three games since returning, racking up 152 minutes under Juliano Belletti.
Known for his pace, power, and attacking intent, Caicedo would be a player closer to Alejandro Balde in terms of profile, which could dampen his chances of breaking into the first-team setup for now if Flick is looking for a different solution.
Hafiz Gariba
Finally, if Flick decides to look beyond the full-back positions, Hafiz Gariba is among the most promising candidates coming through the ranks at Barça Atletic.
Flick took a close look at Gariba during the opening stages of pre-season training. However, illness interrupted his preparations, leading to him being left out of the England camp.
Having returned to the reserve team setup, he has made an impressive start to the season, starting and completing each of their eight league games.
The club’s staff view him as a player with the potential to reach the first team and he could be an option for Flick if he sought cover in central defence.