Why Bernat to Barca would represent smart business for the Catalans

Emmet Gates

• Updated: 20 May 2021 13:09 BST
• 2 min read

Barcelona could make a move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Juan Bernat, according to reports in Spain.

The left-back, who is currently out injured, is out of contract with the French giants at the end of the season, and will be a free agent in July.

Mundo Deportivo state that Barcelona are monitoring Bernat’s situation, with a view to holding talks with the player about signing for the financially struggling outfit.

Bernat suffered a serious knee injury in September, which he has only just returned to training after.

The defender has made 76 appearances in all competitions for the French giants since arriving from Bayern Munich in 2018, scoring six goals and supplying ten assists. 

So should Barca sign the Spaniard ahead of next season?

What Bernat could give to Barcelona

What would Bernat offer Barcelona in comparison to what they already have at the club?

The Spanish giants currently have Jordi Alba and Junior Firpo as the club’s left-backs, with Alba being the first-choice.

Bernat would offer more defensive solidity than Alba, with the latter an extremely attacking left-back. However, he wouldn’t offer the same threat going forward as Alba.

Alba has provided an astonishing 10 assists and three goals in 30 games in all competitions this season for a struggling Barca. Indeed, his assists tally is equal to Bernat’s entire spell in Paris, such is Alba’s propensity and ability pushing forward.

And it’s not just confined to this season. In the 2018/19 campaign, Alba registered a ludicrous 17 assists in all competitions. Overall, Alba has claimed 76 since joining Barca from Valencia in 2012.

However, he is an aging force.

Firpo, meanwhile, is a young defender who the club supposedly have high hopes for, to such an extent that they rejected an offer from Milan in January to keep him at Camp Nou.

He has struggled for game time, however. Should Bernat sign for the club, one expects the 24-year-old to leave the club.

It’s also worth noting that it remains to be seen if Bernat will fully recover from his anterior cruciate ligament injury, typically one of the most difficult injuries to overcome.

However, given Barca’s current financial predicament, signing the former Bayern man on a free transfer may be the height of their expectations for the foreseeable future.

And considering how leaky their defence has been, especially in Europe, signing Bernat may not be the worst of manoeuvres from the beleaguered club. He would certainly add some much-needed steel.