Jordi Alba asks Fàbregas and Pedro for lowdown on Chelsea
The left-back is unsure whether his future remains at Barça - especially after the club's interest in signing Theo. He has also been in touch with United's Spanish playersChampions League semi-final draw: live online
For quite some time now Jordi Alba has had niggling doubts about whether he will remain at Barça. He has the impression that the club has lost confidence in him and has contacted fellow players in the Premier League to find out the lie of the land at Chelsea and Manchester United, in case he finds himself on the transfer list this summer.
Three years to run on Jordi Alba's contract
The left-back signed a five-year contract extension, taking him to 2020 in 2015, but he has gradually been given a more low-key role within the side. Alba has featured in Luis Enrique's squad list for two thirds of Barça's league games and made 16 starts. While a knee injury and hamstring sprain kept him sidelined at the end of last year, Alba has been a victim of the coach's favoured 3-4-3 set-up in recent weeks with Andrés Iniesta preferred out wide on the left whenever the Blaugranas play without full-backs and either Jérémy Mathieu or Lucas Digne covering the left-sided central defensive position. It must be said that Mathieu's lack of pace has been exposed under this system - notably in the recent game against Granada. He has been a first choice when Barça play 4-3-3 and he is expected to start tonight's tie against Juventus.
AS understands that Jordi Alba has consulted a number of ex-team mates and colleagues to weigh up his options in the scenario that he is forced to abandon Barça. Cesc Fàbregas and Pedro Rodríguez have both received calls from the defender to glean information on Chelsea, and they are not the only ones. He has also been in touch with Manchester United's Spanish players. The player's agents in Spain and the UK have been trying to calm the situation and persuade him not to be to jump the gun after five successful seasons at Barcelona.
A lot could happen between now and the end of the season and Luis Enrique's looming departure will be the biggest factor. It will largely depend on who comes in to take the coaching post but right now, Alba is unsure about whether he will continue at Camp Nou.