Barcelona has received a new setback in its sports planning for next season. The blaugrana club, which had been determined to strengthen the right-back position, has seen one of its top options slip away. Villarreal has decided to bring back Andrei Ratiu, currently playing for Rayo Vallecano, to strengthen its squad ahead of its return to the Champions League.
This move by the groguet team has been swift. According to several sources, the Castellón-based team will activate the buy-back clause that will allow it to regain the services of the Romanian international. This way, Villarreal gets ahead of Barça's interest, which saw Ratiu as an ideal profile to take over from Jules Koundé on the right flank.
Hansi Flick and the culé sports management had started working on a more specific profile for the right-back position. The idea was to free Koundé from a position he has never fully mastered and to bet on a natural wide player. Ratiu, with experience in LaLiga, the Romanian national team, and an affordable cost, met all the requirements.
Deco wants a signing for the flank
Barça's sports management, led by Deco, had seriously explored the option of the 26-year-old defender. His performance at Rayo has been more than remarkable, and his competitive character convinced both the coaching staff and the technical secretariat. However, Villarreal has acted quickly and has left the Catalan club with no room to maneuver.
This situation forces Barça to reconsider its roadmap. With no financial margin to make high-cost signings, the entity is forced to look within. That's where a name that has long been knocking on the first team's door appears: Héctor Fort. The player trained at La Masia is increasingly integrated into the Catalan team.
Villarreal steals him
The very young right-back, who has shown great maturity and reliability every time he has played, is now the main alternative to cover the right flank. His progress has been steady and his performance hasn't gone unnoticed by Hansi Flick, who already counts on him for preseason. However, he won't be a starter, since Jules Koundé remains the key man for the German coach.
In this new scenario, Fort gains momentum to establish himself as a first-team player in every respect. His versatility and good work both in defense and attack could be key in the new blaugrana project. In addition, his status as a homegrown player makes it easier to register him for European competitions and provides a profile committed to the entity.
Villarreal's bet on Ratiu not only improves Marcelino García Toral's squad, but also complicates Barça's plans. The sports management will have to act wisely to strengthen a position that has long raised doubts.