Barcelona turn to teenager Hafiz Gariba as Christensen injury deepens defensive crisis

Christensen setback forces Flick to look inward

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is giving serious consideration to handing a first-team opportunity to one of the club's most promising defensive youngsters in the wake of Andreas Christensen's latest injury blow.

According to Diario Sport, the player in question is Hafiz Gariba, a centre-back who has been earmarked as the most likely internal solution to cover the vacancy at the heart of the Blaugrana backline.

The complexion of Barcelona's defensive situation has shifted dramatically in recent days. After enjoying a strong start to the season on an individual level, Christensen suffered an injury setback during a La Liga victory over Sevilla. The Danish international is now expected to be unavailable for selection for a period that could stretch to as long as six weeks.

Gariba ready to make the leap

Already short on options at centre-back, Flick and his coaching staff have been left with little choice but to seek reinforcements from within, and Gariba has emerged as the standout candidate after spending time with the senior setup at the Ciutat Esportiva during pre-season.

"Hafiz Gariba is one of the names that sounds to make the leap. Flick knows that he can use Gariba if he needs him at some point. Due to his speed in short spaces, he is an ideal profile for the philosophy and style of the German coach."

The teenager's profile is said to be particularly well suited to Flick's demanding tactical approach, with his acceleration over short distances viewed as a perfect fit for the high defensive line the German tactician favours. Whether Gariba is thrust straight into competitive action or gradually introduced will depend on how quickly the club's injury situation resolves, but all signs point to the youngster playing a role in the weeks ahead.