In a recent report, Mundo Deportivo stated that Barcelona have given up hope of extending Ilaix Moriba’s contract this summer. It is believed that the Catalans are now prepared to let the Spanish midfielder leave before the end of this summer transfer window (via Mundo Deportivo).
Moriba’s Impressive Rise At Catalonia
Moriba has come through the youth ranks of the Catalan club and deserves a lot of credit for breaking out as a first-team starter at the Nou Camp last season. The 18-year-old was involved in 18 senior matches for Barca in the previous campaign, scoring one goal and providing three assists across various competitions.
Most of the Conakry-born talent’s game time came as a substitute which explains why he could only manage to average 1.0 tackles, 0.4 interceptions, 0.9 shots, 0.5 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game in La Liga. He was even accurate when distributing the ball in midfield after completing 91.6% of his attempted passes in the Spanish first division (stats via whoscored).
Moriba’s current deal with Barca runs out at the end of next season. Hence, Ronald Koeman has no choice but to cash in on him this summer or else risk losing him as a free agent next year. At 18, he is in for a very bright future in European football, so his exit could prove to be a big loss for Barcelona in the long run.
Can Barcelona Afford To Let Moriba Leave This Summer?
Moriba enjoys playing as a box-to-box midfielder as he has decent pace which he can use to make a few intelligent runs with the ball towards the opponent’s penalty box. He loves a tackle at the centre of the park and can hamper the opposition’s flow in the game.
The Spanish whizkid can even strike the ball with venom and is a tidy finisher in the attacking third of the field. Hence, losing a youngster of Moriba’s skill set and potential will be a bitter pill to swallow for anyone associated with the Catalan club.
However, Koeman has still got Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets as his first-team midfield options with Riqui Puig serving as their back-up on the bench. Thus, the Barca boss can afford to sell Moriba as he has a strong squad capable of challenging for major silverware in the coming seasons. Plus, the Spanish club can benefit from cashing in on the promising starlet as it will ease their financial concerns in this off-season.
