Barcelona’s plans are taking shape as key players like Lewandowski and Iñigo Martinez have automatic contract renewal clauses in place, with talks already underway. Meanwhile, despite being sidelined by injury, Andreas Christensen’s potential extension is under discussion, though progress has been slow due to his absence. While Christensen faces competition for a starting spot from in-form players like Pau Cubarsi and Araujo, the club remains focused on securing the futures of essential squad members for the long term.
Barcelona Star Reports to Training on Day Off
Barcelona star Ferran Torres reaffirmed his dedication to the team in the Catalan capital on Thursday morning.
This was confirmed by the versatile forward’s presence at Barcelona’s training facility.
Players from Hansi Flick’s squad who were not called up for international duty this week were given a day off on Thursday.
Ferran, however, made it clear that he wasn’t interested in taking a break.
The former Manchester City player is currently out because of a hamstring strain received in a La Liga match against Deportivo Alavés earlier last month.
As he nears the end of his recovery, Ferran decided that continuing his rehabilitation was the best option this morning.
As seen in the footage below, in his bid to be ready for Barcelona’s first match after the international break against Celta Vigo on November 23rd, the 24-year-old visited the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper to participate in both indoor and outdoor drills, with and without the ball.
Barcelona Chief Confirms Automatic Renewals for 2 Stars
Barcelona director Deco confirmed this week that two key first-team players will see their contracts automatically extended for another season, provided they meet certain objectives.
The two players involved are Robert Lewandowski and Iñigo Martínez.
Both striker Lewandowski and defender Iñigo have played key roles for Barcelona in the early part of the season.
As for Lewandowski, he has appeared revitalized under new manager Hansi Flick, scoring an impressive 19 goals in 17 appearances across all competitions.
Veteran goalkeeper Iñigo, on the other hand, has stepped into a more significant role in Barcelona’s defense for the 2024/25 season, now seen as one of the first choices in the starting lineup in the Catalan capital.
In an interview this week, Deco was asked about the futures of both players at the club.
This comes as Lewandowski and Iñigo are set to have their contracts expire in the summer of 2025.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona chief further confirmed:
“There are players who have an automatic one-year renewal if they meet certain objectives in their contracts. This is the case of Iñigo and Lewandowski.”
The agreement is that Lewandowski’s renewal will be triggered if the Spaniard plays at least 45 minutes in 60% of Barcelona’s matches this season.
Lewandowski’s requirement, on the other hand, is slightly lower, set at 55%.
Fans of Barcelona can, therefore, expect both players to remain at Camp Nou for the 2025/26 season.
Barcelona Contact 28-Year-Old to Discuss Contract, Injury Delays
There is still no definite timeline for the return of Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen, who has been out with an injury since August.
Reports earlier this week indicated that the Danish center-back might return to training next month, potentially making him available for action in January.
Contract Negotiations Started
Meanwhile, SPORT reports that Barcelona, led by director Deco, has begun preliminary talks regarding a potential contract extension for Andreas Christensen.
The 28-year-old’s existing contract runs until the summer of 2026, and Barcelona is eager to prevent key players from entering the final year of their contracts.
As a result, negotiations are already underway for the renewals of Pedri, Gavi, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, and Inaki Pena.
Now, discussions have begun with Christensen regarding a potential extension, though progress has been slow due to his injury-related absence.
The former Chelsea star faces a tough challenge to regain his place in the starting XI, as Pau Cubarsi and Iñigo Martínez have both been outstanding this season.
Additionally, Araujo is expected to return before Christensen and will also compete for a starting spot, making it difficult for the latter to break into Hansi Flick’s lineup.
Although he could be an option for the defensive pivot role, the rise of Marc Casado and the presence of players like Frenkie de Jong and Eric Garcia may limit his playing time in that position.
It will be interesting to see if that affects his decision regarding a new contract.
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