After signing Ilkay Gundogan, FC Barcelona wanted to sign another attacking midfielder during the last summer transfer window. Xavi wanted another player in the middle of the pitch who could create chances for Lewandowski and other forwards, particularly to relieve Pedri, who had been the only creative outlet during the last season.
The first preference of Xavi and the club was to sign Bernardo Silva from Manchester City. However, the Premier League champions did not want to lose the Portuguese attacker and closed the door on him leaving for Barcelona or any other side.
Lo Celso was close to joining Barcelona
One of the alternatives that Barcelona had identified to get instead of Silva was the Argentine Giovani Lo Celso. He was also close to signing for Barcelona on loan as he was not too happy at Tottenham Hotspurs and had already spent the last two seasons on loan at Villarreal.
However, his move to Barcelona also could not materialize, and in the end, Barcelona signed the Portuguese forward Joao Felix on loan.
Argentine now settled at Tottenham
Still, it was clear that Xavi really liked Lo Celso. But his chances of arriving at the Catalan capital are further reduced as SPORT reports that his fortunes at Spurs have changed in the last few weeks.
Ange Postecoglu, the new Spurs coach, is betting on Lo Celso and giving him greater responsibility and share of minutes than previous Spurs coaches.
Lo Celso will now leave the London-based club only if an irresistible financial offer arrives. However, with Barcelona’s current financial state, the possibility of such a move by the Catalan club is very low.
Thus, keeping in view the low probability of success of the operation, the report by SPORT claims that Barcelona have already given instructions to its staff to divert their attention to more feasible targets. Thus, Lo Celso’s move to Barcelona does not seem to be likely for the time being.
