Barcelona’s summer plans went through drastic changes when Lionel Messi decided to go to Inter Miami instead. If the Argentina international had come, the Blaugrana management would have approached the transfer window in a different way.
In this regard, SPORT says that if Barça had signed Messi, Xavi would have wanted a more physical player in the defensive midfield role, and in that case, the team would have gone ‘all out’ for the signing of Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat.
But now that the world cup winner has moved to Major League Soccer, the manager sees no point in signing a physically strong defensive midfielder. Instead, just like Sergio Busquets, he would rather have someone who is exceptional on the ball.
The aforementioned outlet claims that Barcelona kept the option of signing Amrabat open right until the very end, but the management had to dissolve the interest as Messi decided to move to the United States instead.
There was a feeling that Amrabat would have been a great signing, especially if Messi had joined as Barça would need the legs and the physicality in midfield to make up for the Argentine’s lack of defensive efforts.
However, once Messi decided to move to Inter Miami, the Blaugrana decided against the pursuit of Amrabat, who himself was in a hurry to clarify his future.
But with Ilkay Gundogan’s arrival, Xavi is now looking for someone who can provide quality on the ball and solid distribution from the pivot position instead of physicality and force.
Safe to say the Barcelona squad with Messi in it would have looked a tad bit different. But with Amrabat now ruled out as a target, the Blaugrana are looking at other options such as Dani Parejo, who has even been offered a 1 + 1 contract already.
