Sport: Schlotterbeck can't fit with Flick's tactical requirement

The Dortmund centre-back was originally one of the options to strengthen the team

Barça have two major objectives to strengthen the sporting project for next season: centre-forward and left-footed centre-back. The sporting area is already going through the names to make final decisions and begin the last negotiations and one of the folders has been that of Nico Schlotterbeck, Borussia Dortmund's left-footed centre-back, who has decided not to renew and who will leave his club this summer as he will have only one year left on his contract from June.

Schlotterbeck was offered to Barca earlier this season to sound out the option of signing him. The centre-back is looking to take a step forward in his career and wants to find a place in a team that will allow him to win the Champions League and give him more visibility. His great card was his excellent performance this season, after recovering from a serious injury, and the knowledge that Hansi Flick has of him, as he made him debut in the German national team.

Barça's sporting management have absolutely ruled out his signing after analysing the player well. They are clear that he is a player with a lot of resources and with good ball output, but the Blaugrana club is looking for another profile of player for the position. Sources from the Barcelona club explain that Schlotterbeck has a lot of qualities but that he would lack some speed to be able to adapt to Hansi Flick's game.

In fact, Barça's special way of defending makes the club doubt many of the names that have been offered or about which they have been asking and following. And the decision with Schlotterbeck is clear, so Barça will not be in the final bid for the German international, who does maintain the interest of Bayern and Real Madrid to get his services.

Barça's eyes are focused, at the moment, on two players who are very much liked although they are not easy operations to carry out. On the one hand there is Alessandro Bastoni, Inter Milan's centre-back, and the preferred to occupy the position whenever it is possible to get him out of the Italian club. It is currently the priority objective. And the second, as reported by SPORT, would be Tottenham's young centre-back Micky Van de Ven, who wants to leave the Premier League this summer.