Barcelona turn to Hafiz Gariba after defender wins battle with Real Madrid

Barcelona may have found an answer to their defensive problems in 19-year-old Ghanaian defender Hafiz Gariba, who has impressed for the club’s reserve side after joining from under the noses of Real Madrid.

The teenager has emerged as a leading candidate for promotion to Hansi Flick’s first-team squad following an outstanding start to the season with Barcelona Atletic. Gariba has helped the side keep clean sheets in each of their opening three league matches.

His progress has taken on greater importance after Andreas Christensen was ruled out for more than a month and a half with an injury sustained during Barcelona’s match against Sevilla.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Gariba’s development has attracted the attention of Flick, whose defensive system places significant demands on his centre-backs. The German manager favours a high defensive line, requiring defenders with the pace to recover quickly and cover space behind them.

Gariba’s speed is regarded as one of his main strengths, and his performances have made him an increasingly realistic option for the senior team as Barcelona deal with a congested schedule and a number of injuries.

How Barcelona won the race

Gariba’s route to La Masia began in the impoverished streets of Accra, where he was discovered by the Marcet foundation. However, bureaucratic obstacles prevented him from joining one of Spain’s leading clubs immediately after arriving in the country.

Instead, he played for fourth-tier Catalan club Codolar. Despite the modest level of competition, his performances were strong enough to make a significant impression on scouts from both Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Sport reported that the two Spanish giants began sending scouts to watch Gariba in matches before submitting formal offers for him at the same time.

Barcelona ultimately won the contest after an urgent intervention from academy official Toni Hernandez. He persuaded Gariba to choose the Catalan club’s project, securing his move to La Masia and leaving Real Madrid to miss out on the defender.

Gariba also had to overcome an early setback this summer when a sudden virus ruled him out of England’s training camp. He recovered carefully and rebuilt his fitness, establishing himself as an important and unmovable part of the reserve team.

That consistency has now brought him into Flick’s thinking. With the injury situation placing extra pressure on Barcelona’s defence, Gariba’s chances of making the step up are growing. The defender could prove to be a valuable product of the club’s academy after Barcelona won a transfer battle against their traditional rivals.