In a recent tweet, Spanish journalist Adrian Sanchez stated that Barcelona are prepared to begin talks for Monaco full-back Caio Henrique this summer. It has been mentioned that the Catalan giants are planning to step up their chase to land the Brazilian defender ahead of the new season.
❗️El #Barça ha dado el visto bueno a Deco para iniciar conversaciones por Caio Henrique del Mónaco.
Primeros contactos, nada oficial, pero es una alternativa MUY real a día de hoy. #mercato #FCBarcelona
— ᴀᴅʀɪᴀ́ɴ sᴀ́ɴᴄʜᴇᴢ (@_AdrianSnchz) July 23, 2022
Henrique’s Solid Form In French Football Last Season
The 24-year-old experienced a decent campaign with the French outfit as he put in a handful of influential displays on the left side of their defence. Henrique scored two times and earned 13 assists in 49 appearances for Monaco last season in all competitions.
The Santos-born defender performed well to average 1.6 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 1.0 clearances, 0.6 shots and 1.3 key passes per 90 minutes in Ligue 1. He even distributed the ball well from the left flank, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 78.8% in the top tier of French football (stats via whoscored).
What Will Henrique Add To Barcelona Head Coach Xavi’s Team?
Henrique can be a decent defender inside his half as he can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team. He usually clears the danger when needed and can create a lot of inviting chances for his teammates. However, the Brazilian talent needs to add more goals to his game if he wants to taste success at the highest level.
Henrique is primarily a left-back but can also play as a left-sided wide player or as an attacking midfielder if needed. Someone of his versatility will be a good addition to Barcelona boss Xavi‘s squad this summer. At 24, he will only get better with each season as long as he can maintain his good form in La Liga.
The Monaco star is good enough to rival Jordi Alba for a regular starting spot at the Nou Camp. We can expect him to add more quality to Xavi’s defensive department. Furthermore, he could help the Catalan outfit challenge for some major trophies once again over the next few years. Therefore, Xavi should consider sealing a move for Henrique this summer as he ticks all the right boxes in terms of what he demands from his full-backs.
