The dilemma of the right-back position remains a big concern at FC Barcelona as they continue to scout the transfer market to find their ideal candidate in terms of both sporting quality as well as financial feasibility.
Originally, Manchester City right-back Joao Cancelo and Real Valladolid youngster Ivan Fresneda remained the priority targets for Xavi Hernandez and FC Barcelona, however, it appears that their operations have become complicated.
In terms of there being no sporting consensus among the various Directors and higher-ups in the sporting department at Barcelona, the arrival of Fresneda becomes more and more uncertain. On the other hand, Cancelo’s arrival is primarily stalled by the difficulties in negotiating with Manchester City, the current club of the Portuguese fullback.
As such, a new possibility has arisen within the Barcelona offices, as per Spanish outlet Diario AS, and this is one that does gather the sporting and economic consensus simultaneously. Pablo Maffeo of RCD Mallorca has become the latest right-back target for FC Barcelona and one that they are now seriously contending for.
According to the report, the operation would not exceed a valuation of more than €6-8 million, an amount that Barcelona consider to be feasible for them, and it fits Xavi’s request of a fullback that is defensively reliable to balance out the extremely offensive nature of Alejandro Balde on the left flank of the defense.
Maffeo’s prior experience in England, Germany, and Spain, namely with Manchester City, VfB Stuttgart, Girona, and Mallorca, has been a great convincing detail for the sporting department at FC Barcelona as they consider him an experienced player and one that could have an immediate impact within the team.
It remains to be seen how quickly Barcelona advance for the arrival of the 26-year-old fullback from Mallorca, but given the intensity of reports it could be likely that the Catalans have chosen the player as their ideal candidate to bring in for the fullback position.
