Barcelona coaches have requested the renewal of versatile defender – report

Marcos Alonso was one of the two players to join Barcelona on the transfer deadline day this summer. The experienced fullback came from Chelsea to add more depth to the club’s left-back unit, which, at the time, had Jordi Alba as the only recognised option.

However, three months into the new season, the situation has changed drastically. Youngster Alejandro Balde has become the club’s main left-back after making a major breakthrough in the first team whereas Alba is being slowly phased out of Xavi’s plans.

There are even talks of Barcelona potentially offloading the veteran defender in the upcoming January transfer window.

With that in mind, there is a strong belief inside the Barcelona camp that the contract of Marcos Alonso should be extended. The feeling has been strongly approved by the coaching staff, who believe the defender has done enough to earn a new deal, reports Javi Miguel (h/t Força Barça).

Alonso’s current deal at Camp Nou expires at the end of the season. But the club want to keep him for longer due to his versatility and experience which have proven to be quite useful for Xavi.

Although the former Chelsea star is yet to become Barça’s first-choice option at left-back, Alonso’s ability to play at centre-back has been useful, especially in the midst of an injury crisis that sent Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo on the sidelines earlier in the season.

Alonso’s presence on the side could become even more useful following the recent retirement of Gerard Pique. The veteran centre-back has played his final game for the club, leaving Xavi with four recognised central defensive options at his disposal, among which, Araujo is already sidelined.

Therefore, it will not come as a surprise to see Alonso being juxtaposed between a centre-back and left-back role throughout the remainder of the campaign. And with that in mind, the club could soon come up with a well-deserved contract extension for the Spaniard.

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