Barca eye up Ajax star for 2022 Bosman move

Martin Macdonald

30 Sept 2021 17:48 BST
3 min read

Barcelona are planning ahead to gain some reinforcements in the right-back position in 2022.

Article continues under the video

At the moment, the Blaugrana have Oscar Mingueza, Sergino Dest and Sergi Roberto who can feature in that position.

However, there are concerns over the future of Roberto as his current contract runs out after the 2021/22 campaign, meaning that he will be available to leave for free.

Barcelona are in negotiations for a new deal for Roberto, but this will be with a 50% wage reduction as the club continue to cut costs.

Players like Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba have already accepted this cut in pay, but Roberto is yet to commit to it on a new deal.

Should he leave, Barca have identified three targets to bring in at right-back.

Noussair Mazraoui

The preferred option for Barcelona and for president Joan Laporta is Ajax's Noussair Mazraoui as he would be available to come in as a direct replacement for Roberto in 2022 when his contract expires.

If the Dutch giants are unable to come to an agreement with the player, Barcelona will swoop for him on a pre-contract in January.

The Blaugrana have a long-standing relationship with Ajax as the two clubs have done lots of business over the years, most recently with Frenkie de Jong.

Though Ajax would have no say in a free transfer, Barcelona are keep to bring him in as he came through the academy at the Dutch side, with them holding the same philosophy as Barca.

Mazraoui has made a superb start to the 2021/22 season, scoring four goals and recording two assists in eight appearances.

Dodo

It seems like forever that Barcelona have been trying to find a long-term replacement for Dani Alves, and Laporta seems to think that they might finally get one in the form of fellow Brazilian, Dodo.

Like Alves, Dodo is very much an attacking right-back as opposed to a defensive one and the feeling is that he could potentially develop into a player close to that of his compatriot.

Unfortunately for Barcelona, he would cost in excess of €20 million.

Mateu Morey

Barcelona have a tendency to let some younger players go from La Masia only to bring them back after they have developed at another club.

Look at Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas and Eric Garcia as examples of that.

They could do the same with Mateu Morey, who was with the Camp Nou side between 2015 and 2019 before making the move to Germany.

The Spaniard has came into his own in 2021/22 and has already started more games this season than in the two previous, earning two assists from 10 starts for Borussia Dortmund.