Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has asked the club to make for Arsenal’s star defender who has been credited with interest from the Catalan giants of late.
Jordi Alba signed a contract extension in Catalonia just a few days back, thereby extending his stay in Barcelona up until June 2024. Should Alba run out his newly signed deal with the Spanish champions, he will be 35 years old and probably retire. Nonetheless, Barcelona are looking at a short-term replacement who could be his second fiddle.
Lucas Digne’s departure for Everton last summer left a big void to be filled, which has not been done impressively by academy product Juan Miranda. The Andalusian is yet to win over Ernesto Valverde, and thanks to his failure in doing so over the course of this season, he could be set for a return to Seville, courtesy of Real Betis’ interest in him.
Arsenal full back Nacho Monreal has been identified as the player who could arrive at Barcelona during the summer of 2019. Having already spent a few years in north London playing to handsome productivity under Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery, the Spaniard is keen on tasting a new pasture for possible the final time in his career.
After evaluating the options that included, but were not limited to Alberto Moreno and Filipe Luis, Barcelona concluded that Nacho would perfectly fit their requirement. At 33 years old, he could be happy on the bench and will cost them only an odd transfer fee of 10 million euros should they make a transfer for him.
The flexible left back who has also played as a central defender finds Barcelona’s offer an enticing one and seeks to return to Spain and La Liga where he has already experienced the atmosphere through Malaga until 2012 when he signed for Arsenal. The fact that even Lionel Messi is happy with Barcelona’s interest in him talks volumes.