Barcelona have turned to another academy option ahead of the PSG match, with Hansi Flick including 18-year-old Àlex Campos in the squad on Monday. The call-up comes as Jules Koundé, Eric García and Andreas Christensen were all unavailable because of injury, leaving Barcelona short in defense for a major 2025-26 season test.
Campos is not an unfamiliar name inside the club. He joined Barcelona from Atlètic Segre in the summer of 2021 and has spent the last five years moving through the academy system. In July, Barcelona renewed his contract until June 2029, with an option for one additional season, a sign that the club views him as part of its longer-term plans.
The defender also took another step forward on 28 September 2025, when he made his official debut with Barça Atlètic against UE Sant Andreu. It was a notable milestone for a player who has progressed steadily through La Masia and is now being asked to stay close to the first team in a difficult moment.
Why the call-up matters
For Barcelona, the immediate reason is simple: injuries have thinned the back line. With Koundé, García and Christensen unavailable, Flick needed another defender in the squad, and Campos fits the profile of a youth player ready to be tested in the senior environment. The move does not guarantee minutes, but it does show the staff is willing to lean on academy depth when circumstances demand it.
Campos is listed at 1.85 meters and has already shown enough development to earn this chance. For a teenager, being included for a match against PSG is a meaningful step, especially in a season where Barcelona may need more from its young defenders than originally planned.
The broader picture is familiar at Barcelona: injuries can quickly open the door for academy players, and the club often asks them to absorb responsibility sooner than expected. For Campos, this call-up is less about a final verdict and more about the next stage of his rise.
