Throughout the years, despite changes elsewhere, FC Barcelona have always remained a side that boasted midfielders of elite quality. To this day, that understanding of quality has not deterred, as FC Barcelona continue to have midfielders of elite qualities and well-renowned repute at their disposal. However, their ideal midfield for next season could leave jaws dropping.
As it currently stands, Xavi Hernandez’s preferred system of playing football revolves around the usage of a 4-man midfield with the addition of a hybrid false winger-midfielder.
Accordingly, his main components in this season’s 4-man midfield were Gavi, Pedri, Frenkie De Jong, and captain Sergio Busquets. The latter, who acted as the team’s primary pivot, is set to depart the club and will thus need to be replaced by someone of similar quality if Barcelona hope to be competitive next season.
According to Mundo Deportivo, one such direct replacement for Sergio Busquets is 28-year-old German midfielder Joshua Kimmich who currently plies his trade for Bayern Munich but has reportedly been displeased with the management at the German club and would ideally be looking to change scenery moving forward into his career.
FC Barcelona would themselves be willing to bring in the experience and quality of Kimmich. Apart from Kimmich, FC Barcelona are also hoping to soon close a deal with another elite German midfielder by the name of Ilkay Gundogan, who continues to be one of the primary creators as well as offensively integral cogs of Pep Guardiola’s treble-challenging Manchester City.
Should the Catalans manage to assemble and unite the likes of the German duo, who they continue to monitor and target, with their own pair of Pedri and Frenkie De Jong, they may eventually end up creating a midfield that could very well compete against and intimidate the very best in Europe.
The likes of Kimmich and De Jong as the double pivot, while the qualities of Pedri and Gundogan enable them to become extremely reliable interiors in the Barca midfield.
Good idea, but we must still need Messi and Dembele by their sides to operate effectively.