Barcelona fulfill Lionel Messi’s request by replacing this defender
By Kian Long
Lionel Messi is known to bark his orders behind the scenes at Barcelona…
Barcelona fans are no strangers to hearing Lionel Messi and the board being in discussion. After all, I suppose it’s a good thing that the hierarchy consider the views of their star player valuable since he often uses his voice and privilege in the squad well.
He has been known to request players to be signed, but equally to be sold. It was thought a few months ago that the Argentine had fallen out with Nelson Semedo and saw no place for him in starting XI. Perhaps this could explain why Barcelona is now being linked with defensive options to replace him.
According to a new report from Marca, Barcelona is in conversation with Juventus over the potential signing of Mattia De Sciglio, who would serve as a direct replacement to Nelson Semedo.
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Semedo’s contract soon runs out at the Camp Nou, therefore the club will want to make some money out of him this summer. Replacing him with a more experienced and arguably better full-back is certainly the way forward.
De Sciglio is likely to be deemed as surplus to requirements in Turin given Maurizio Sarri’s depth of defensive options. He would be a great addition to Barcelona nonetheless, especially to strengthen a position of need.
Perhaps Barcelona could even consider including Semedo as part of the deal. This is certainly an option to explore since they will be selling the Portugal international anyway. He has been given plenty of chances to succeed this season but, to be frank, he has wasted each chance and looked out of place in the XI.
I suppose we’ll wait and see how these discussions go. As with all transfer stories this summer, we must take them with a pinch of salt. It’s yet to be seen what the repercussions of the Coronavirus are on the transfer market, of course.
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Do you think Barcelona will sign Matteo Di Sciglio this summer?