Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is reportedly considering deploying midfielder Rodri as a makeshift centre-back ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

The German tactician faces a difficult selection decision following injuries to Eric Garcia, Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen, leaving the Catalan giants short of defensive options for the trip to Paris.

According to Barca Universal, citing Spanish publication SPORT, Flick could move Rodri into central defence, having experimented with the arrangement during the closing stages of Barcelona’s 5-2 La Liga victory over Real Betis.

However, the proposed tactical adjustment could prove costly, given the Spain international’s growing importance to Barcelona’s midfield.

Rodri’s Impressive Start To Life At Barcelona

Since arriving at the club, Rodri has established himself as a key figure in Flick’s system, helping the team dominate possession and dictate the tempo of matches.

His ability to retain possession under pressure and distribute the ball effectively has been particularly important to Barcelona’s impressive start to the campaign.

The 30-year-old completed 119 of his 124 attempted passes during Barcelona’s victory over Getafe, recording a 96 per cent success rate in just 71 minutes.

Barcelona enjoyed 83 per cent possession in that encounter, their highest figure since Flick took charge.

Rodri maintained that impressive standard against Galatasaray in the Champions League, playing the entire 90 minutes as Barcelona completed 632 of their 694 passes and enjoyed 71 per cent possession in a 4-1 victory.

The former Manchester City midfielder was equally influential against Real Betis on Saturday, scoring his first Barcelona goal and completing 126 passes with a remarkable 98 per cent accuracy.

He also created two goalscoring opportunities and successfully completed all ten of his attempted long passes.

Rodri currently boasts a 95 per cent passing accuracy in La Liga, the highest among midfielders in the competition.

Rodri Could Be Deployed In Central Defence Against PSG

Despite those impressive numbers, Barcelona’s defensive problems could force Flick to sacrifice the midfielder’s influence in his preferred position.

Much will depend on the fitness of Gerard Martin, who suffered a heavy blow to his heel during the victory over Betis.

Although Martin has been included in Barcelona’s travelling squad for the PSG encounter, there remain concerns over whether he will be fit enough to start.

Should the defender recover in time, he could partner Pau Cubarsi in central defence, allowing Rodri to retain his position alongside Pedri.

However, if Martin is unable to feature, Flick may have little choice but to deploy the Spanish midfielder in defence.

Such a decision would leave Barcelona facing a difficult challenge against a PSG midfield containing Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves.

The final decision could prove crucial as the Catalan giants seek to maintain their impressive form against Luis Enrique’s side at the Parc des Princes.