Barcelona’s quest to strengthen their midfield has taken an unexpected turn as they seek a replacement for the departing Sergio Busquets, who is set to join Inter Miami. With the signing of Ilkay Gundogan already secured, manager Xavi Hernandez is determined to find a top-class player to fill the void left by his captain’s departure.
Initially eyeing Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich, Barcelona soon discovered that both targets were out of reach for the La Liga champions. Zubimendi boasts a hefty €60 million release clause, a figure that Barcelona cannot currently afford. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich is reluctant to part ways with Kimmich, and even if negotiations were to take place, his price tag would be exorbitant. Follow your favourite La Liga team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet.
Consequently, the Blaugrana have shifted their attention to alternative options in the transfer market. Roger Torello of Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona is considering a serious approach for Inter Milan’s midfield general, Marcelo Brozovic. The 30-year-old Croatian international has been on Barcelona’s radar since January, but a potential swap deal involving Franck Kessie fell through due to the latter’s unwillingness to leave Camp Nou.
Now that Kimmich and Zubimendi are no longer viable choices, Barcelona has reignited their interest in Brozovic. Highly regarded within the club, the midfielder is seen by Xavi as an ideal fit for the profile of a pivot midfielder he desires. However, Barcelona faces stiff competition from Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr, who are flexing their financial muscle in their pursuit of Brozovic.
Al-Nassr is prepared to offer the Croatian a lucrative contract worth €15 million per year for a duration of four seasons. In addition to the hefty salary, they are willing to pay Inter Milan €25 million in transfer fees. Undoubtedly, the financial aspect of the offer is tempting for Brozovic. Nonetheless, Barcelona hopes that the midfielder will prioritize the sporting project the club presents over monetary gains. Drawing from their successful negotiations with Gundogan, Barcelona aims to persuade Brozovic to choose their squad for the upcoming season.
As Barcelona continues their search for a suitable replacement for the influential Busquets, the competition for Brozovic’s signature adds an additional layer of complexity. Will the allure of a significant financial windfall sway the midfielder towards Al-Nassr, or will Barcelona’s sporting ambitions and Xavi’s admiration be enough to secure his services? Only time will tell as the Catalans strive to bolster their midfield options ahead of the new season. Get the latest updates from the La Liga only on Nextbet Sports.
