Barcelona are considering a move for Pablo Maffeo.
Barcelona have had a relatively quiet summer. They’ve let go of Antoine Griezmann, Franck Kessie, Trincan, Nico Gonzalez, and Sergio Busquets, but have only brought in three new players so far. They’ve landed Manchester City’s ‘captain’, Ilkay Gundogan, and have even managed to sign Inigo Martinez and Oriol Romeu.
Of course, they’re not done yet. They are looking to sign a right fullback. According to Javi Miguel of Spanish outlet Diario As, Barcelona are looking to sign a right fullback to balance Alejandro Valdez’s attacking prowess.
The first target was Man City’s Joao Cancelo. Once City’s ace in the hole, Kancelu is now a liability. He lost his place in the middle of the 2022-23 season and publicly requested a move, eventually leaving on loan to Bayern Munich in the winter transfer window. For Pep Guardiola, the decision was made because he couldn’t afford to keep a player who would disrupt the atmosphere in the team, even if it meant thinning the squad depth.
His time in Munich went well. While he was somewhat unhappy under Julian Nagelsmann, he established himself under Thomas Tuchel. One goal and six assists in 22 games, including cup competitions. A performance that left room for a rebound.
He then returned to City. Kancelu spent the preseason with the club. In July, he traveled to Japan and South Korea as part of an Asian tour and played against Atletico Madrid.
However, his position is still unclear. With Kyle Walker staying, Kancelu’s position for the new season is unlikely to improve. Hence the transfer rumors. Barcelona have been active. “Kancelu’s loan move to Barcelona has become a possibility,” according to Portuguese outlet Hecord. Spanish outlet Sport also reported the same thing. According to Sport, the loan fee is €10 million and Kancelu’s salary is €14 million. The option for a full transfer was revealed to be 40 million euros ($575 million).
Personal agreements have also been finalized. Transfer market pundit Rudi Galletti announced on social media on July 7: “Kancelu has finalized a personal agreement with Barcelona. The club is now in talks with Man City.”
Of course, it’s not finalized. There are still issues to be resolved. Barcelona are keen to sign Kancelu, but are somewhat 토토 balking at his high weekly wages. So they’ve started looking for more affordable options.
One of the players on their radar is Maffeo. Maffeo is a former Man City player who has also played for Stuttgart, Girona, Huesca, and now Mallorca.
He’s exactly what Barcelona want. Javi Miguel reported on Tuesday that “Maffeo was mentioned in Barcelona’s meeting yesterday. His salary is between €6 million and €8 million, which is not unreasonable for Barcelona to pay.”