Jules Kounde faces uncertain future at Barcelona after losing starting spot

Tactical Shifts and Slipped Standing

Jules Koundé’s position at Barcelona has shifted dramatically over the opening weeks of the season. After arriving from Sevilla in 2022 and establishing himself primarily as a right-back, the French defender has lost his regular starting spot in the wide defensive channel. Hansi Flick has increasingly favored 25-year-old Eric Garcia on the right side of the defense, while youngster Xavi Espart has also featured prominently in the defensive rotation.

The situation took another turn during training sessions when Hansi Flick utilized Koundé as an axial central defender, as reported by Diario Sport. This positional experiment comes as the player works to recapture the top-tier form he displayed during his debut campaign in Catalonia. However, breaking into the central defensive pairing presents its own hurdles, with Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin currently holding strong claims for regular minutes in the heart of the backline.

Managerial Assessment and Squad Competition

Addressing the media regarding the defender’s status, Hansi Flick acknowledged the challenges facing the French international while praising his professionalism amidst increased competition.

“What I can say on Jules is that it’s a player extrêmement professionnel. Dans cette situation aussi puisqu’il n’a pas débuté la saison comme titulaire. Pour lui, c’est un défi et il y a de la concurrence. Il donne tout à l’entrainement,”

The manager added that discussions had taken place regarding a potential shift to central defense:

“Bien sûr, je lui ai aussi parlé du fait qu’il pourrait peut-être jouer en défense centrale. Je sais qu’il préfère jouer latéral car, lors de sa première saison avec nous, il a évolué à son meilleur niveau donc on veut retrouver ce niveau-là. On va l’aider à atteindre son meilleur niveau, c’est notre travail. Mais en ce moment, on a des options fantastiques à tous les postes.”

Despite starting the first two La Liga matches of the campaign on the bench—against Elche in a 5-0 win and Athletic Bilbao in a 2-0 victory—Koundé did play the full ninety minutes at right-back in a 5-2 win against Rayo Vallecano. Yet, the ongoing tactical changes indicate that his long-term role remains fluid.

Transfer Market Speculation and Replacement Targets

With a contract running until June 2030 and a valuation set by Barcelona at €50 million or higher, Koundé continues to attract significant interest from abroad. Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City were linked with the defender over the summer window. Paris Saint-Germain has also been mentioned as a possible destination given their search for a right-sided central defender, though potential complications remain regarding the player’s preference for operating on the flank rather than centrally.

In anticipation of a potential departure, Barcelona’s leadership is already evaluating options to reinforce the position. Deco holds a strong interest in Sporting CP right-back Ivan Fresneda. The 22-year-old Spanish defender recently received a senior national team call-up to replace the injured Pedro Porro, drawing further attention from scouts across Europe ahead of upcoming transfer windows.