Barcelona set to sign highly-rated defender ahead of Chelsea

Barcelona are reportedly set to sign Mikayil Faye from NK Kustosija in a move that highlights a shift from their nostalgia for a glorious past to focus on a promising tomorrow.

The hierarchy at Camp Nou, including club president Joan Laporta, headed into the summer intending to bring back club legend Lionel Messi. Barca’s precarious financial situation combined with a lack of trust between the parties led to the 35-year-old opting to move to Stateside to ply his trade with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

The Blaugrana, meanwhile, have decided to spend their tight budget on signing the rising Senegalese talent. Faye, who is appreciated for his intense off-the-ball defending and his ability to step out of the backline into midfield, has been linked with Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea. But it appears Barca have won the race for the 18-year-old.

Barcelona to sign highly-rated defender ahead of Chelsea

According to Fabrizio Romano, the La Liga champions are set to sign Faye from the Croatian second-division side in a deal worth €5m plus add-ons. Hours after the Italian journalist broke the news, the highly-rated defender shared the update on his Instagram page, indicating he’s joining Barcelona.

Despite posting an impressive defensive record during the 2022-23 campaign, the Catalan giants seem to be keen on strengthening their defence. They’ve already reached an agreement to sign Athletic Club defender Iñigo Martínez on a free transfer. Both Martinez and Faye are left-footed.

Barcelona are also ready to bet on highly-rated Brazilian teenager, Vitor Roque. As per SPORT, he is the club’s number one target to reinforce their frontline. The Athletico Paranaense striker raised the eyebrows of European heavyweights with his exploits in the South American U20 Championship. The tournament’s joint-top scorer is likely to cost significantly more than Faye.