Barcelona Need to Reinforce Left Back after Aleix Vidal Injury, Claims Enrique

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has admitted that the club would need to reinforce the defence in order to overcome the absence of Aleix Vidal for almost 5 months.

The left back has been a disappointment since joining from Sevilla in 2015. However, he has started performing well of late. A major setback for the player came in the form of a horror tackle, which has left him facing time on the sidelines for the next five months. Signed from Sevilla for around € 17 million, the player made only 14 appearances for the Catalan club in his first season.

It was clear that he was finding it difficult to cope with the transition from a club challenging for a Champions League place into a club that actually challenges for the Champions League. This season, however, he has featured in 11 games across all competitions while also going on to score his first goal for the club. However, he has suffered a dislocated ankle in the 6-0 win over Deportivo Alaves.

Early signs are that the player could be out for up to 5 months. Even though Barcelona will not be able to bring in a new player now given that the transfer window is shut, Enrique says that a suitable replacement should be brought in to the club in the next window.

"Aleix is already on the process to recovery. It's a question of trying to get better on a day-to-day basis. This is the first phase now, which is perhaps more tranquil but more difficult for the player. It is a player who we are going to miss considerably because we don't have the biggest of squads.It is an option we are considering and we will see if we can find someone that suits us," said the Barcelona manager.