The intense draw against Inter Milan (3-3) in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals left more than just emotions in Barça's environment. In the return leg, the German coach had to take desperate measures due to a specific situation, and it had consequences.
FC Barcelona achieved an impressive comeback at San Siro after being two goals down against Inter Milan. The blaugrana team equalized the aggregate score and, not satisfied with that, managed to get ahead, making their fans dream of an epic qualification.
However, Inter didn't give up: they withstood the pressure in the final minutes of regular time and managed to force extra time. In the extra time, the Italian team took advantage of their opportunities and, with a decisive goal, sealed their passage to the next round, leaving Barça with a bitter taste. It was a thrilling tie, full of emotion, in which the blaugrana epic wasn't enough to overcome an Inter that showed composure and efficiency at key moments.
Hansi Flick's team showed notable offensive character, but also exposed defensive shortcomings at certain moments of maximum demand. This has raised the alarm in the coaching staff and the sports management: beyond the result, important moves have started to be made at the club.
With an eye on what will be the next season, one of the main focuses after the match at Montjuïc was the fragility of the left flank. The absence of Alejandro Balde forced Hansi Flick and his coaching staff to find an urgent alternative, and the solution was to field Gerard Martín. However, the gamble didn't go as expected: the full-back ended up being substituted at halftime to bring on Ronald Araújo, knowing that the youth player left more doubts than certainties.
On the Departure List
Gerard Martín's performance in a highly competitive scenario didn't convince Deco and, as a result, Barça has accelerated decisions that were already being considered. Starter out of necessity rather than conviction, Gerard Martín was substituted at the end of the first 45 minutes after being frequently outplayed by Inter's attack. For Hansi Flick, who has had several months of work with the player, it was enough to confirm what he already suspected: he isn't yet ready for matches of maximum demand.
Therefore, Deco has opted to give the green light to the young full-back's departure. The idea is to facilitate a destination that allows him to gain minutes and experience outside Camp Nou, either through a loan or a sale with a buy-back option included. Barça doesn't want to hinder his development, but they understand that the first team needs top-level competition for Balde, and relying on Gerard Martín for key matches is risky.
Marked Objective
With the decision made regarding Gerard Martín's future, Barça has reactivated the search for a left-back with elite experience. In this context, the name of Alejandro Grimaldo appears as the great favorite, a former youth player of the club and a figure at Bayer Leverkusen. His profile fits what the sports management is looking for, although the major obstacle is the financial aspect.
The German team values Grimaldo at about 35 million euros, a high figure for Barça's finances. Even so, his name is on the table and will be one of the first to be seriously evaluated during the summer market. What is clear is that Gerard has potential, but he needs an intermediate stage before consolidating in the first team.