BARCELONA
Inter’s Marcelo Brozovic emerges as an option to replace Sergio Busquets at Barcelona
The Croatian midfielder is in pole position to succeed Busquets after the failed attempts to sign Kimmich and Zubimendi.
Marcelo Brozovic is the best placed candidate to become the new defensive pivot at FC Barcelona, AS understands. The Croatian midfielder, who currently plays for Inter, has become a favourite within the Barcelona offices, especially after deals to sign Joshua Kimmich and Martín Zubimendi fell flat.
Faced with a difficult financial situation, the club has decided to make moves and has established the first contacts with the player’s entourage and the Italian club. According to what AS understands, Brozovic’s desire for the deal to happen is real, meaning a multimillion-dollar offer from Saudi Al Nassr has been placed on hold, while Inter have also shown themselves open to negotiating a possible transfer.
Barcelona also carry an ace up their sleeve that could help close the operation: Franck Kessié. The Ivorian is a player with a lot of prestige and demand in Italy, and Inter could be interested in a potential deal.
How much is Brozovic worth?
Barça plan to propose a straight swap between Kessié and Brozovic: they consider that the value of the two players to be very similar. Inter value the Croatian for around €40 million, a figure that Barcelona also place on their midfielder.
The Catalan management team see Brozovic as a player who would adapt perfectly to the team’s needs: a top level player with experience, who is also physical and powerful and has a good touch on the ball as well as indisputable leadership skills.
Which other players might Barcelona buy this summer?
One player who seems to have fallen out of the picture at Barça is Guido Rodríguez, Real Betis’ Argentinian midfielder. The player has been given the green light of the technical staff, but not unanimously, so any potential deal for him seems to be moving further away on the horizon.
The arrival of the Croatian would put an end to summer spending at Barça, since the club would have satisfied almost all of its most urgent needs with Iñigo Martínez, Ilkay Gündogan, Vitor Roque and Marcelo Brozovic.