Jules Kounde’s position at Barcelona has changed significantly since he joined the club, with the France international facing a reduced role at the start of this season.
According to Sport, Kounde was previously regarded as an indispensable starter under Xavi Hernandez and during the early part of Hansi Flick’s tenure. However, he now occupies a less prominent position in Flick’s plans and will have to compete strongly if he is to restore his status in the Barcelona team.
The change was indicated by the roadmap drawn up by Flick’s coaching staff at the end of last season. One of its main elements was the intention for Eric Garcia to establish himself permanently at right-back.
Garcia spent the previous year filling in across several positions, including centre-back, right-back and defensive midfield. Flick now sees him as the ideal player to provide stability on the right side and develop an effective partnership with Lamine Yamal.
That decision was expected to send Kounde back into central defence, a position in which he has historically felt more comfortable. It was also the role he had asked to play during his first months at Barcelona. However, opportunities in the centre of defence are currently limited.
Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin have started the season in a settled position within the squad and are being treated as the first-choice options for the starting line-up. Andreas Christensen also strengthened his case during pre-season and retains the full confidence of the coaching staff.
The impact of Kounde’s altered status has already been evident in Barcelona’s first two La Liga matches. His involvement has been limited and he has played considerably fewer minutes than he had become accustomed to receiving.
The situation follows a previous campaign in which Kounde’s performances dipped compared with his first season working under Flick. He now faces the challenge of accepting a role that requires sustained effort in training and matches if he is to change the manager’s view and regain his importance within the side.
Kounde’s contract situation and long-term future were also considered by Barcelona during the summer transfer window. With the market still open and the entire season ahead, the player’s immediate task is to work hard on the training ground and convince Flick that he should once again be central to the team’s plans.
The development represents an unprecedented change in Kounde’s sporting situation since his arrival at Spotify Camp Nou. Rather than being an automatic selection, he must now overcome competition in both full-back and central-defensive roles to recover his place in Barcelona’s hierarchy.
