Koundé loses his Barcelona starting place but closes in on club record

Jules Koundé is going through a difficult spell at Barcelona. Having lost his starting place, the defender has become the subject of debate at the club, even as he moves closer to a historic milestone. The prospect of a departure and the chance to set a new mark now sit side by side in his story.

His reduced role in the Spanish league is clear: Koundé started on the bench in 6 of the first 7 matchdays and also missed some games. Yet he had been one of the team’s mainstays in recent times. This season, he has had to fight to regain a place in the starting eleven, a new challenge since he established himself at right-back.

The player acknowledged, while with the France team, that losing his starting spot was linked to his inconsistency last season. He summed up his performances as « below the standards I set myself ».

Competition for places also extends to the national team. Koundé is not assured of starting for France: new head coach Zinedine Zidane has said he will not rely consistently on a large group of starters and that everyone must prove they deserve to play. During the current international break, Koundé started against Turkey, did not feature against Belgium or Italy, then returned for France’s most recent match against the Belgians.

Having lost his status as an automatic choice at both Barcelona and France, reports of a possible departure in the winter transfer window have resurfaced. For now, his aim is to convince Hansi Flick: Koundé intends to work harder and raise his level to earn a bigger role in the coach’s plans.

The next match could also bring a historic milestone. Koundé equalled Eric Abidal’s record of 193 appearances for Barcelona in the match against Feyenoord. One more appearance would give him the record outright. He could also become the French player with the most appearances in the club’s history if he features against Getafe, on Saturday at Spotify Camp Nou.