Barcelona seek redemption from that night at Anfield
Barcelona seeks redemption from their humiliating night at Anfield after Ernesto Valverde’s men blew a three-goal led to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. The Blaugrana entered the Anfield as favourites to progress onto the final, however, the atmosphere at the stadium and the motivation running through the Liverpool players played a decisive role in overcoming the prior 3-0 defeat at the Camp Nou.
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A year has passed since Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum efforts helped shatter the dreams of million Barca fans around the world and according to the reports from Don Balon, it seems like the Blaugrana have shortlisted Gini Wijnaldum as a marquee signing for the summer.
Quique Setien currently faces a crisis in the midfield department as Ivan Rakitic, Arthur Melo and Arturo Vidal have been heavily linked with moves away from the Camp Nou and if either of the three leave, Bartomeu has considered the versatile man from England.
Would the signing of the Dutchman benefit Barcelona?
The possible signing of Georginio Wijnaldum comes with several advantages and disadvantages just like every other signing. The positives that Wijnaldum would bring to the Camp Nou is his versatility in the midfield. Under Jurgen Klopp, the Dutch footballer has been played several times as an attacking midfielder which was displayed brilliantly against Barca as the player scored 2 goals in eleven minutes post half time.
Jurgen Klopp has effectively transitioned Gini Wijnaldum as a successful defensive-minded midfielder and has deployed him as the ultimate pressing machine to win possession back in the middle of the park. The former PSV man can operate efficiently in a two-man or three-man midfield as well, such is the versatility the 29-year-old Premier League star possesses.
However, despite being the perfect replacement for both Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic since the Liverpool man can attack and defend equally well, the issue that lies ahead at the office at Barca is the player’s age and market value.
Currently, Gini Wijnaldum is priced between 40-50 million euros in the transfer market, a figure that is not too much for Barca, however, does Quique Setien require another 29-year-old footballer?. Despite being 29-years-old, the Dutch international has lungs of steel that have facilitated his style of aggressive pressing and it is fair to say that the Liverpool superstar still has a couple of seasons left under his belt due to his conditioning.
In the end, it all depends on whether the board at the Camp Nou seriously considers the Premier League man as a signing for the summer given that the board has also shortlisted several other superstar signings.
Would you want to see a Dutch connection in the midfield of the Blaugrana with Frenkie de Jong and Wijnaldum?