Barcelona are still considering the option of going into the winter transfer window in search of a replacement for Christensen. Due to the Dane’s injury, the club does not require “fair play” and can use his position in the team to bring in reinforcements. Deco and Flick are hesitant because they are not satisfied with what is on the market and think they can get by until the end of the season with what the team has. They will still take their time and see how the team performs in the first games of the year.
However, thanks to the recovery of some key players in the team, Flick will receive a number of important “contracts”. One of them is Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayan has returned to training with the rest of the group and is expected to be able to play in the derby against Espanyol or, if not, in the Super Cup. The player is already recovering from the mental problems that forced him to stop playing after the game against Chelsea at the end of November. His return is crucial for the manager following Christensen’s recent absence.
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Be careful with Gabi
Another big addition would be Gabi. The midfielder suffered a serious injury last September and had to undergo meniscal surgery. He is already in the final stages of recovery, but he won’t be back anytime soon. He plans to return to team training in January and return to competition in February. Everyone at the club is very cautious about his return because of his previous injury problems. A fully fit Gabi is the perfect addition for Flick.
pedri factor
The three players expected to return soon are Pedri, Kounde and Olmo. The first of these was unable to play against Villarreal in the last match of 2025. Although the injury was not serious, everyone is very wary of the Canary Islander due to his importance in the team and because he was already injured at the end of October and was out for a month. The midfielder has been training with the group and will be ready for Espanyol unless there are surprises.
right full back
The same goes for Jules Kounde, who ended the game against Villarreal in an unpleasant way. The player himself admitted that the injury was not serious, and he is expected to play in Saturday’s game against Perikos. The right-back position is the only one at Barcelona that has not been doubled up, so the Frenchman’s presence is essential. When he couldn’t play, Eric Garcia and Casado played.
Doubts about Olmo
Dani Olmo’s return to Derby is less obvious. The Blaugrana dislocated his shoulder a month ago against Atlético Madrid. His recovery is going well, but it won’t be long until he can play against the Perico team. His evolution in the next few hours will decide whether he can take part there or not.
