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Barcelona: Could Real Betis maverick Junior Firpo be a potential target?

By Chiranjib Ghosh

Real Betis Balompie defender Junior Firpo (20) celebrates scoring the goal during the match FC Barcelona against Real Betis Balompie, for the round 12 of the Liga Santander, played at Camp Nou on 11th November 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Mikel Trigueros/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Real Betis Balompie defender Junior Firpo (20) celebrates scoring the goal during the match FC Barcelona against Real Betis Balompie, for the round 12 of the Liga Santander, played at Camp Nou on 11th November 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Mikel Trigueros/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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Júnior Firpo owned Sergi Roberto for the entirety of the game at the Camp Nou

In recent years, Barcelona youth product Sergi Roberto has evolved into one of the finest right-backs in Europe, after starting his career as a central midfielder. He has pace, skill, agility, strength and a good cross, which are all signs of a good full-back.

The 26-year old La Masia graduate has taken on the likes of Marcelo, Layvin Kurzawa and Benjamin Mendy, and emerged victorious on the right flank. But he couldn’t cope with Real Betis left-back Júnior Firpo at the Camp Nou, and allowed him too much space.

Júnior Firpo emerged as one of the best left-backs in La Liga last season, when he was promoted from Betis B after being recruited from Puerto Malagueño. In his debut season with Los Verdiblancos, he made 14 appearances, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists.

This season, he has made 13 appearances in all competitions, with the same goal and assist tally. His best performance of the season was in the 4-3 win over Barcelona, where he was involved in 2 goals indirectly, and score one himself.

Barça technical secretary Éric Abidal is on the lookout for a left-back after Ernesto Valverde failed to put trust in La Masia graduate Juan Miranda, and Thomas Vermaelen could not match Jordi Alba in that role. Júnior Firpo could be a very good option in January.

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He has experience in the La Liga, and now has experience in Europe as well, playing against AC Milan in the Europa League. He is very good already, and has a lot of room for improvement. His style of play is similar to that Jordi Alba, who also likes to make runs down the left flank.

Moreover, Júnior Firpo is very good in the air, unlike Alba. The 22-year old Spain youth international is very focused on the pitch, and is adept at blocking shots. He tends to play the ball short to nearer teammates, and is an excellent crosser of the ball.

He is also not too one-footed, as he showed by scoring at the near post with his right foot after cutting in, against the Blaugrana. Firpo’s tackling is poor, and he tends to get booked easily, which is evident in the fact that he has received 7 yellow cards already in his short career.

He could work on that as an understudy to the 29-year old Jordi Alba. Júnior Firpo could be the player to secure the long-term future of the left-back position in the first-team, even though Alba is showing no signs of deterioration or decline.

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Éric Abidal should consider going after Firpo in January if Ernesto Valverde fails to introduce Juan Miranda to more first-team football. Real Betis are unlikely to let him go for cheap, but they will have no choice if the player himself demands a move away from the Benito Villamarín.

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