Valverde now has SIX central defenders to call upon this season
El francés se pondrá con efectos inmediatos a la disposición de Ernesto Valverde / | Perform
FC Barcelona have signed Murillo, on loan from Valencia ,and Todibo, on a permanent deal from Toulouse
In the middle of December the injuries to Umtiti and Vermaelen set alarm bells ringing at FC Barcelona. Valverde was left with only two fit centre halves and had Chumi, from the youth side, as a potential back up.
The sporting department moved quickly to secure the loan signing of Murillo from Valencia. At the same time Eric Abidal began work on a deal to secure another French youngster to the club, namely Todibo from Toulouse. The player and the team quickly reached an agreement.
However Toulouse didn't immediately want to enter negotiations over a deal. They made the youngster train alongside the reserves and threatened to keep him away from the senior squad for the next six months. However the two sides did reach an agreement for the player to move in January before the transfer window closed.
Those two signings alongside the returning Vermaelen means that Valverde now has five centre backs to choose from: Piqué, Lenglet, Vermaelen, Murillo and Todibo. With Umtiti on the road to recovery it could see the coach go from two fit, senior centre halves in the month of December to having six available for February.
