Marc Bartra aims to fill Barca right-back gap in Dani Alves' absence

Barcelona defender Marc Bartra has offered himself as a
potential option to the club's ongoing problems finding a right-
back understudy to first choice Dani Alves.
La Masia graduate Martin Montoya was long seen as Alves'
most likely long-term replacement but the now 23-year-old
has slipped well down the pecking order under current coach
Luis Enrique, and has reportedly already decided to leave the
Camp Nou club in January.
Barca signed another right-back in Douglas for 5.5 million
euros from Sao Paulo last summer, but the uncapped
Brazilian 24-year-old has yet to make a positive impression
at his new club.
With Alves suspended for Wednesday's Champions League
group decider against Paris Saint Germain, Bartra -- a
centre-back by trade -- told a news conference that he could
step in if needed, while adding that he has played in the
position in training recently.
"I always try to do what the coach asks at each session,"
Bartra said. "I played in that position for the B team. I
have always liked it. I've played there in some training
sessions. There are things which are different, but things that I
like."
Bartra said he could understand the current frustration being
felt by his long-time friend and colleague Montoya.
"We have been playing together since the junior sides, for 10
years," he said. "I know [Montoya] is in a difficult situation
-- I have been there in previous years, and you must respect
the decisions that he takes."
After critics of the Douglas transfer received more ammunition
after the Brazilian's poor display in Wednesday's Copa del
Rey win at Huesca, Bartra called for more patience, saying
as it is not easy to come straight into top-level European
football and perform.
"[Douglas] is a player coming from a different continent, with
all that means," Bartra said. "It is not easy, but in every
training session he tries to adapt and improve. He has
difficulties with the language, but we are helping him."
Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo has reported that, should the
Court of Arbitration for Sport lift its current ban from
transfers, in January Barca will try to sign either out-of-
favour Valencia and Portugal right-back Joao Pereira or
Granada's Cameroon international Allan Nyom.