Ever since the retirement of Carles Puyol, there has been a mini-battle going on at Nou Camp at the centre back position amongst defenders to secure his place. Besides the position of Gerard Pique, who is the only solid defensive option at Barcelona, there has been plenty of players who have come and gone.
Amongst the few top choices, there is Thomas Vermaelen who has never really played on a regular basis for the Catalan club. Then there is a certain Javier Mascherano of Argentina.
Since moving to Barcelona seven years back, he converted from a holding midfielder to a centre back. He has gone on to make over 300 appearances for the Catalan club and helped them to several trophies and accolades.
At Barcelona, Mascherano took his time to become regular as it was difficult to replace the trusted pairing of Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol but with Puyol’s retirement, Mascherano became the player closest to a regular starter and had cemented his place of sorts until this season.
Moreover, with the Argentine not getting any younger at 33 and with Barcelona having brought in replacements in the form Samuel Umtiti, his time at Nou Camp may well be over. Samuel Umtiti, the other Barcelona man is full of potential and is now a regular starter for the Catalan side after replacing the ageing Javier Mascherano at Nou Camp. Umtiti was brought in from French side Lyon last season for a reported fee of 25m euros.
The youngster impressed largely last year and kept pushing for a first-team spot. This season he has become a regular starter and although had been impressive in the initial outings, now looks a little erratic at times. The talented centre-back has a bright future ahead of him but does not yet look ready to continue for a full season as the senior centre back at a club of Barcelona’s level.
Therefore, the above circumstances leave Barcelona short on first team defenders with only two solid options. Such a situation has led to reports believing that Barcelona is chasing Palmeiras defender Yerry Mina. The 23-year old is reportedly in advanced talks with the Catalan club and he is set to undergo a medical test in the coming days before being presented as a Barcelona player.
The deal is likely to cost Barcelona around twelve million euros and latest reports linking Mascherano with a move to China will mean that the Colombian can be a direct replacement for the Argentine.
