Barça prepares €80M to sign a top center-back: Pau Cubarsí thanks them

Joan Laporta is clear that the main goal for next season is to strengthen Barça's defense.

The unexpected departure of Íñigo Martínez to Saudi Arabia left a gap that's difficult to fill and, in the summer, there wasn't enough time to react.

However, Barça's president is already working with Deco and the coaching staff to bring in a reliable center-back who'll give the team a boost in quality.

In recent weeks, several strong names have been mentioned, such as Marc Guéhi or Ibrahima Konaté, but Laporta wants more. The Barça executive has made it a priority to sign one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe.

The gap after Íñigo Martínez

Íñigo Martínez's departure not only left Pau Cubarsí without a partner, but also forced Ronald Araújo to play in a position that doesn't fully benefit him.

The Uruguayan performs better as a right-sided center-back rather than on the left, while Andreas Christensen also hasn't fully convinced as an alternative.

This lack of a natural left-footed center-back has weakened Barça's defensive solidity and has set off alarms within the coaching staff.

Hans-Dieter Flick believes that, in order to make a competitive leap in the Champions League, a top-level reinforcement is needed in that position. 

For this reason, Joan Laporta has chosen to go after Alessandro Bastoni. The Italian center-back from Inter Milan is considered a player who could transform the back line and partner with Cubarsí in the immediate future.

In this regard, Bastoni stands out as the most suitable option. At 26 years old and with more than 200 matches for Inter, the Italian combines experience and youth, in addition to being a regular for his national team.

Bastoni's profile attracts Barça

Bastoni is a left-footed center-back with great ability to play the ball out from the back, cover open spaces, and organize the defense.

His tactical intelligence and technical quality make him the ideal complement for a profile like Cubarsí's, who is more positional and calm.

If the deal goes through, Barça could have one of the best center-back pairings in Europe on their roster.

The cost, however, will be high. Bastoni is under contract with Inter until 2028 and his departure won't be easy.

According to information published by "Fichajes.net", FC Barcelona is preparing an offer close to 80 million euros, an amount with which they hope to convince the Lombard club.

Laporta and Deco know that it will be a long and complicated negotiation, but they believe the effort is worthwhile.

Joan Laporta's bet for 2026

Bastoni's signing is planned for the summer of 2026, as part of a broader strategy to rejuvenate and consolidate the squad.

The club is aware that Cubarsí needs a world-class partner and they're willing to make a major financial effort to provide him with one.

The future of Barça's defense depends on the academy player's talent and a leader like Bastoni. If Laporta manages to close the deal, Barça will have a formidable back line to compete reliably in all competitions.