As pointed out by Mundo Deportivo, FC Barcelona has two new ‘untouchable’ stars in 2024.
Owing to the club’s delicate financial predicament, however, the duo might still be sold this summer if the right offers come in.
The term ‘untouchable’ is often used by the Catalan and Spanish press to describe a star whose role in the first team is undisputed and who will not be sold under any circumstances.
Lionel Messi once held the moniker for many a year until leaving for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2021.
In his absence, next generation talents such as Pedri, Gavi and Ronald Araujo have since been given the title alongside de facto captain and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The 16-year-old prodigy of the La Masia academy Lamine Yamal can also probably be added to the list.
But in Mundo Deportivo‘s most recent use of the concept, it is applied to a pair of men not mentioned thus far because they have played every minute on offer in 2024 for head coach Xavi Hernandez.
Namely they are Frenkie de Jong and Jules Kounde, who have notched 1,290 minutes in all competitions including two Copa del Rey matches against minnows Barbastro and Unionistas de Salamanca ahead of the Blaugrana being dumped out of the competition at the quarter-final stage by Athletic Club.
But although heavily trusted upon by the manager as things stand, it wouldn’t be a surprise to learn that the Dutchman and the Frenchman won’t line up for Barca in 2024/2025.
In 2022, Barca accepted a $92 million (€85 million) offer for De Jong from Manchester United according to The Athletic only for the 26-year-old to refuse to make the switch.
He later became an ‘untouchable’ squad member by January 2023 Mundo Deportivo reported, but if a bid of a similar magnitude comes in over the coming months, president Joan Laporta might again be tempted to listen as Barca struggles to navigate Financial Fair Play.
As for Kounde, he was bought around the same time De Jong appeared set to join the Red Devils.
Amid some flat performances this term and the rise of Pau Cubarsi, however, interest from the PremierPINC League, and clubs like Newcastle according to El Nacional, could see him leave after just two years in Catalonia.
Simultaneously, though, the central defender is often Barca’s only right back choice with Manchester City loanee Joao Cancelo currently having to operate on the opposite flank owing to a serious injury suffered by Alejandro Balde.
