Andreas Christensen earned his first start of the season last Sunday at Vallecas. The departure of Iñigo Martínez gave the Danish defender an unexpected prominence as he steps into a campaign seen as pivotal for his short and medium-term future.
At 29, the former Chelsea player, signed by Xavi in the summer of 2022 (although negotiations were initiated months earlier when he was convinced not to renew his contract with the Blues), is now entering his fourth season with the Barcelona squad.
INCONSISTENT PATH OVER THREE SEASONS
The influence of the Scandinavian player has been quite inconsistent throughout his time here. He was crucial during the La Liga win in his first year, but physical issues and injuries have hindered his continuity in defense. We’ve seen Andreas fill in as a pivot out of necessity, but under Flick’s command, he has settled back into his natural position as a central defender.
Even though in that first stage of Flick’s project, which resulted in three titles and a Champions League semi-final appearance, we hardly saw him due to an Achilles injury at first (which, it should be remembered, opened the door for Dani Olmo’s registration) and another muscular issue later, the situation is quite different now for the Nordic player.
A DIFFERENT PROSPECT
With 104 minutes played after featuring against Levante and Rayo, there’s a sense that he will be a valuable asset this season that Flick can utilize frequently. On paper, Araujo and Cubarsí are expected to be the primary pair, but the Dane is expected to rotate in and potentially have more influence against certain rivals.
LOW PROFILE
Quiet and discreet in the locker room, Andreas exhibits calmness and the essential touch of character on the field. He is skilled at ball distribution, excels in aerial challenges, and anticipates well. Flick has noted his qualities since his arrival and believes that with continued play, he can make a significant impact on this Barça squad. During the summer, he made it clear to the technical team that Christensen is part of his plans.
This is an important season for Andreas. He will turn 30 and his contract ends next June 30. There has been no movement yet, and despite interest from clubs like Milan this summer, he was determined to stay and make the most of this final contract year in hopes of securing a renewal.
NO MOVES UNTIL A FEW MONTHS
For now, Deco has not made any moves regarding him (focusing more on extending Frenkie’s contract and advances with Eric), and his situation will be addressed based on his performance this season. Starting in January, Andreas is free to negotiate with any club. It will also be crucial to see how significant his role has been with Flick and how all parties are positioned.
Christensen arrived for free, and it wouldn’t be an issue for him to leave without transfer fees as there is nothing to amortize. His development over the coming months will decide what actions will be taken with many career opportunities still ahead.
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