Barcelona will have multiple crucial decisions to make in this year’s summer transfer window. Among them, Barca will have to decide on just who will replace Sergio Busquets.
Busquets announced earlier this month that he will leave the Catalan side at the end of the season. He is set to hit free agency after the ongoing campaign, and while there was much speculation that he would end up signing an extension deal with the club, the veteran midfielder decided otherwise.
Barcelona has a few players on its roster who have what it takes to become the team’s go-to central defensive midfielder for next season. Nonetheless, Barcea manager Xavi believes that it is an “absolute priority” for the club to bring in such a player during this year’s summer transfer window.
“Yes, it’s obvious,” Xavi said during a pre-match press conference ahead of Barca’s La Liga home fixture against Real Sociedad. “Weeks ago, we did not know if Busquets was staying.
“Now we already know, so it’s an absolute priority to sign a defensive midfielder.”
Barca has been linked with several defensive midfielders as of late, including Real Sociedad standout Martín Zubimendi. The Spanish international has emerged as one of the more potent defensive midfielders in Spain’s top flight today, as he has proven to be a player who can not only win back possession on a regular basis but also push up play in the final third. He has four years left on his contract at Real Sociedad, and he holds a €60 million release clause.
Xavi took some time on Friday to laud Real Sociedad’s promising midfielder.
“I like all of Real,” Xavi said. “Imanol does an extraordinary job, they look a bit like our style. Zubimendi is an extraordinary pivot. He wins duels, understands the game, with and without the ball. He is extraordinary.”
Zubimendi is projected to earn a start for Real Sociedad against the reigning La Liga winners on matchday 35.
Overall, Barcelona has a mere four fixtures left on its La Liga schedule, and it is a mere five points away from reaching the 90-point mark this season.
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