Is Theo Hernández the full-back Barcelona needs? Find out here

The FC Barcelona board seems determined to incorporate a left-back in the upcoming summer market. Although the club has full confidence in Alejandro Balde, the lack of a quality substitute for the '3' (Gerard Martín and Héctor Fort, the only alternatives) raises concerns in the Blaugrana coaching staff. So far, several names have been mentioned regarding the summer transfer window, including the Spanish Álvaro Carreras.

However, in Serie A, there is a very interesting option that could arrive at an affordable price. This is Theo Hernández, a French international who knows LaLiga very well from his time at Atlético de Madrid (the club where he came through the youth ranks), Real Madrid, Alavés, and Real Sociedad. Between 2016 and 2019, the current AC Milan player played a total of 79 league matches, scoring 2 goals and providing 7 assists.

Theo Hernández, a full-back with quality who could arrive at an affordable price

The 27-year-old defender is a natural left-back, with an offensive vocation, good striking ability, and speed to cover the entire left flank. In the 2024/25 season, he maintains very similar stats to Balde with Barça. Theo has 4 goals and 5 assists in 32 matches, while Álex has provided 6 assists in 31 appearances with Hansi Flick's team, in addition to scoring a goal against Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España final (2-5).

The season for the '3' culé has been good, despite a poor start. Hernández, for his part, has done well in a Milan that has already seen two coaches this season. In terms of market value, both are valued at around 50 million euros on Transfermarkt, but the Marseille native could arrive in Barcelona at an affordable price as he enters the last year of his contract.

Initially, the 'rossoneri' could let the defender go for a price close to 20-25 'kilos', a figure that the club can comfortably raise next summer thanks to the departures of Andreas Christensen and Eric García, the two center-backs earmarked to leave if the board ultimately decides to finalize the signing of Jonathan Tah. The German, unlike the former Madrid full-back, would arrive at 'zero cost'.

This is the contractual situation of Theo Hernández

And it is that the '19' contract ends in June 2026 and, for now, Milan has not provided any updates regarding Theo's renewal. His last renewal was signed in February 2022 and, since then, his salary has remained around 5.10 million euros net per year. The Marseille native has remained an undisputed starter despite the recent coaching changes at San Siro and this season he has already accumulated 2,658 minutes of action in 32 matches, having played every possible minute in the Champions League.

Player technical sheet