There is a lot of talk about what exactly FC Barcelona plans to do in the summer transfer window. For now, the only certainty is that there are special cases that must be resolved no matter what. However, Barcelona has some severe limitations on them in regards to what they can actually do.
Some operations are not as vital as others, but would be considered positive luxuries. Given their overbooking of central defenders, hiring another one would simply be such an act of pursuing luxury. Especially with the emergence of a player like Pau Cubarsi, it becomes even more unnecessary.
However, an emergence like that of Chadi Riad at Real Betis can not be ignored. SPORT highlights that Barcelona values his progression so much that they even consider paying the €7 million repurchase fee for him to get him to land back in Barcelona.
For Riad, however, the entirety of his focus lies with Real Betis for now: “I simply work day by day. I’m focused on the present because if you start thinking about other things, you end up losing focus, and things go wrong.”
“Betis is my team now, and I’ll give 100% for this team and keep going. Then, if other opportunities come, we’ll have to decide. For now, I’m focused on the present.”
He remains aware that Barcelona could potentially end up coming for him, but his focus lies with Betis completely until the summer at least:
“I only have Betis in mind. Right now, Betis is my team, that’s it. If Barça comes later, well, I don’t know. It might come, or not. Right now, I’m focused on Betis.”
Even before Barcelona can think of going for him, they need to sort out their overbooking problem. Players like Andreas Christensen can not even seem to get game time playing as central defenders and instead, the Dane has had to adapt to playing as a defensive pivot in the midfield instead.
Riad remains one of Spanish football’s most exciting defensive prospects. At the tender age of 20, he still has many years left in front of him at the top level. Betis are more than satisfied by him, and his €3 million purchase option looks like a bargain for them while he is on loan from Barcelona.
