Barcelona hopeful Ilaix Moriba contract issues can be solved
Martin Macdonald
- 28 Jul 2021 14:28 BST
- 6 min read
Barcelona remain optimistic at reaching an agreement on a new contract with La Masia diamond Ilaix Moriba, even though he is currently exiled from the squad.
The 18-year-old is the highest paid youth player in the history of Barcelona, earning a reported €1 million per season since signing a deal back in 2019.
That contract runs out in the summer of 2022 and the Blaugrana are naturally desperate to retain him beyond them as he is viewed as a star of the future.
Over the last few months negotiations have stalled as Moriba and his representatives are demanding his salary be doubled to €2m per season - something that Barcelona would struggle to agree to at the moment as they need their wage bill drastically reduced, not added to.
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When suggestions came he might leave, a blockbuster move to Real Madrid was mentioned, though those rumours have since been shot down by Moriba's agent.
With Moriba playing hard ball, he has been left completely out of not only Barcelona's pre-season matches, but also Barcelona B's pre-season matches.
Even though that would suggest talks have turned sour, Goal reports that there have been advancements in recent days.
Moriba, ultimately, wants to stay at Camp Nou and become a success, while Barcelona and Ronald Koeman recognise the need to focus on youth for the moment as they cannot spend big in the transfer market.
“I’ve been speaking with (Ilaix) and I told him that I will help with whatever I can, but above all I advised him not to leave,” Barcelona B coach Sergi Barjuan told Mundo Deportivo.
“I can’t get involved beyond that, it’s not for me to do that. I can just say that I hope he stays.
“It’s a new situation and a difficult one for him and for the club, but the important thing is that it doesn’t affect him. He needs to keep working hard so that if the situation is resolved, he’s in shape when the games arrive. He’s doing that, he’s managing a tough moment well.”
How good is Ilaix Moriba?
A graduate of the famed La Masia academy, Moriba has a natural talent for passing and keeping possession, though his athleticism is equally as impressive as you will regularly see him joining attacks with bursting runs forward from deep.
He is blessed with creative flair, an outstanding first touch, as well as the strength and fitness to make his presence known in those midfield battles.
Last season it was tough for Moriba to regularly break into the starting XI at the Camp Nou due to the presence of Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, Pedri, and Miralem Pjanic.
However, he can certainly take heart from the fact that Pedri is now considered a first-team player despite his young age, so if Moriba’s development goes on a similar path to his team-mate it is not outwith the realms of possibility that he could potentially become a fixture in the starting line-up next season if he agrees a new deal.
After all, Busquets is not getting any younger.
Barcelona head coach Koeman has praised Moriba for giving his team “something extra”.
“Every time he comes into the team he gives the team something extra, because of his personality, his energy, most of all he’s good with the ball, and physically he’s a strong boy,” the Dutchman said. “He’s gaining ground and showing he can be more with the first team.
“It is clear that we are proud to let young people from grassroots football in. We do it because they deserve it, there are people like Pedri, Ilaix, Riqui [Puig], [Ronald] Araujo, [Oscar] Mingueza – they are the future of the club.”
When he scored his first goal for the club against Osasuna, the first player to sprint across for the celebration was Lionel Messi.
