Switching up defenders and chaos in the net: Cubarsí inherits Íñigo Martínez's mantle
Barcelona's Defense and Goalkeeping Situation Ahead of League Title Defense
FC Barcelona is gearing up for their league title defense, and changes in the defense and goalkeeping departments are shaping up to play a significant role.
In the heart of the defense, Pau Torres is set to lead, with potential partners Pau Cubarsí and Ronald Araujo (once recovered from surgery) vying for the spot. Araujo, a top choice, is currently unavailable for selection due to his recovery from surgery, which will keep him out for up to four months [2].
Meanwhile, the departure of Iñigo Martínez has created a vacancy in the center-back position. Pau Cubarsí, a promising young center-back from Barcelona’s youth ranks, is expected to get more playing time following Martínez's departure [1][3]. There have also been discussions about recruiting additional defenders like Jonathan Ta to strengthen the backline, but nothing concrete has materialized yet [2].
Regarding the goalkeeping situation, Barcelona's long-time starting goalkeeper and vice-captain, Marc-André ter Stegen, has been sidelined due to a long-term injury starting around the end of September of the previous season (2024), causing him to miss significant playing time [2][4]. As a result, Barcelona signed Joan García from Espanyol in the summer of 2025, and he is set to be the club’s new number one goalkeeper for the season [3].
Ter Stegen remains a key figure but is recovering from injury; the club appears to be transitioning with García as the primary goalkeeper while Ter Stegen is sidelined [2][3][4]. Inaki Peña, the only first-team goalkeeper with a contract and registered, took over from Ter Stegen last season and was the starter until January 2025 [4].
However, Ter Stegen is currently in a dispute with the club and refuses to sign the form for salary validation, which has blocked Joan García's registration [5]. The Basque center-back Iñigo Martínez's departure can help partially solve this issue, as it can free up €14 million to be used for registrations, with 60% of the amount being available immediately, pending the resolution of the Ter Stegen situation [5].
Elsewhere on the pitch, Robert Lewandowski will not play in the Joan Gamper Trophy this Sunday due to an unspecified reason. The Polish striker is experiencing muscle discomfort in his left thigh's biceps femoris and is doubtful for the match [6]. His availability for training will depend on his progress.
In other news, Gerard Martín has been tested as a left-footed center-back this season, and Barcelona is confident they will reach the 1:1 ratio for registrations. Andreas Christensen could return to the starting lineup due to his good performance under Xavi. The club has also freed up salary cap space with the departures of Lenglet, Ansu Fati, Pau Victor, and Pablo Torre [7].
Barcelona's league title defense begins in seven days, and the team is working tirelessly to ensure they are well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
In the upcoming league title defense, FC Barcelona could strengthen their defense with the signing of Jonathan Ta, while Pau Cubarsí, a product of Barcelona's youth academy, is expected to see more playing time due to Iñigo Martínez's departure. Meanwhile, the goalkeeping situation might witness a transition as Joan García is slated to be Barcelona's new number one, with Marc-André ter Stegen recovering from injury and embroiled in a dispute with the club.
