Barcelona's defense has been struggling to keep up with faster opponents, with their current system relying on scoring more goals than the opposing team. This approach has worked against weaker teams, but it's been exposed against top European teams like PSG and Real Madrid, which could cost them a Champions League title.
As a result, Barcelona are looking to strengthen their defense, and Spanish media are suggesting that they could sign Arsenal's Piero Hincapie in January. Hincapie, a 24-year-old Ecuadorian center-back, has been unhappy with his limited playing time this season, having played only seven games and started in two of them.
He has accumulated just 256 minutes of playing time, compared to his teammate Gabriel Magalhaes, who has already played over 1,200 minutes. Hincapie's playing time is likely to decrease further when William Saliba returns from injury and Ezri Konsa regains his place in the team.
Given his limited playing time, it's understandable that Hincapie would consider moving to a new club. His versatility as a left-footed center-back would make him a good fit for Barcelona, and he could potentially partner Pau Cubarsi or even understudy the left-back and left midfielder.
However, a potential transfer is complicated by Gunners manager Mikel Arteta's reluctance to sell players in January and Hincapie's contract until 2031. Barcelona's sporting director, Deco, has already approached Hincapie's representatives to gauge his interest in joining the club.
Hincapie's statistics are impressive, particularly in his first season at Arsenal. He has attempted the fourth-most tackles in the squad, with 83, and has made 72 headed clearances, third-best in the team. He has also made over 125 clearances, a testament to his defensive skills, despite playing limited minutes.
