Two primary targets on Barcelona’s shopping list have decided to snub them and move to Real Madrid instead, during the summer’s transfer window.
Barcelona are planning for a massive squad revamp during this summer and strengthening the left back and midfield positions is of priority for them. The Catalans were keen on signing Olympique Lyon duo Ferland Mendy and Tanguy Ndombele, as per Fox Sports. However, their targets are also being chased by arch rivals Real Madrid.
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Lionel Messi who agreed with the club about its need for a competitor as well as backup for Jordi Alba felt that Ferland Mendy would be a super signing. Additionally, Tanguy Ndombele has also been magnificent for Lyon this season and could have been a great addition to the midfield if Ivan Rakitic is to leave the club. He would also add some squad depth in the position.
But apparently, both the players have opted with rejecting advances from the Spanish champions and preferred transfers to Real Madrid. The Whites are looking for a replacement and competitor for Marcelo and Zinedine Zidane does not trust Sergio Reguilon, hence wanting Mendy, while Ndombele is a cheaper alternative to Pogba and Eriksen in the centre of the park.
Olympique Lyon have conceded to the fact that the duo would look to move to bigger projects during the summer and is willing to sell it for 120 million euros. While the price tag was initially thought to be expensive by Real Madrid’s officials and most importantly Florentino Perez, the club is ready to pay that much money upon Zidane’s insistence.
Messi’s influence on Barcelona’s selection process is possibly one of the reasons why the players rejected the Catalans, but being of same nationality as Zinedine Zidane has probably inclined their choice in favour of Real Madrid. It looks like the Whites will now wait for the transfer window to open before formulating things officially.
Given two rejections, who should Barcelona attempt to sign instead of Ndombele and Mendy?