Barcelona academy defender on Hansi Flick’s radar following Christensen injury setback

Barcelona academy defender on Hansi Flick’s radar following Christensen injury setback FC Barcelona opted not to sign a new centre-back this summer despite parting ways with both Ronald Araujo (loan) and Alvaro Cortes. Hansi Flick & co. did make an attempt to sign Ruud Nijstad but FC Twente’s reluctance to sell meant the move did not happen and Barça were happy not to explore other options. However, a month into the new season, Andreas Christensen has been rocked by yet another injury, which could sideline him for a couple of months , creating a concern for the Catalans. Hafiz Gariba the solution? And, according to SPORT , with Christensen sidelined for an extended period, Hafiz Gariba is one of the names being considered for a step up to the first team. Flick knows him and is aware that he could call upon him if required. The Barça Atletic starlet’s pace over short distances and ability to defend with space behind him make him a profile that suits the German coach’s philosophy and style. Flick is keeping an eye on Hafiz Gariba. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) Gariba was called up this summer to begin pre-season with the first team under Flick. It was a reward for his performances and another indication of the club’s faith in the tall defender with excellent physical attributes and the potential to make it at the highest level. After completing the first few days of training, however, bad luck struck. Gariba came down with a virus that kept him out for more than a week, meaning he was unable to travel to the training camp in England. Shining with Barça Atletic Gariba subsequently joined Juliano Belletti’s Barça Atletic squad and gradually regained his fitness. He began featuring in pre-season and established himself as one of the team’s regulars, with the coach giving him the full 90 minutes in each of the first three matches of the Segunda RFEF campaign. Christensen could be out for two months. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) The Ghanaian centre-back has formed an impressive partnership with Alex Campos at the heart of the defence, with Barça Atletic not conceding any goals so far this season. As well as possessing remarkable speed when it comes to covering and closing down spaces, Gariba has also impressed with his ability to play the ball out from the back and compete in duels. At 19, he still has plenty of room for development and aspects of his game to polish, but the positives are there for everyone to see, with Flick also keeping a close eye on his progress. Gariba joined Barcelona in the winter of 2025, having rejected an offer from Real Madrid. Now, with Christensen’s injury, there could be a window of opportunity for the teenager to break into the first-team setup.