In a recent report, Calciomercato News mentioned that Barcelona are eyeing a January move for Inter Milan star Milan Skriniar. It has been claimed that the Catalan club are hoping to acquire the services of the Slovak defender whose contract at San Siro is set to run out at the end of this season.
Skriniar’s Impressive Run Of Form In Italian Football This Season
Skriniar is enjoying a solid campaign at the Italian club as he has already managed to put in a few impressive displays at the heart of their defence. The 27-year-old made 15 appearances for Inter this season but is still waiting to open his goal-scoring account across all competitions.
The Slovak sensation has given a good account of himself on the defensive end of the pitch based on his average of 1.3 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 1.6 clearances per 90 minutes in Serie A. He has even been excellent when distributing the ball from the back, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 92.3% in the Italian top tier (stats via whoscored).
Skriniar is currently on an expiring contract which should give Barcelona a lot of encouragement of landing him on a free transfer next summer.
Is Skriniar A Good Choice For Barcelona Boss Xavi?
Skriniar is an experienced defender who can read the danger quickly to earn the ball back for his team inside his half. He can get stuck in with some crunching tackles to make life difficult for the opposition. Skriniar is proficient at playing in both centre-half positions as well.
The Slovakia international doesn’t hesitate to clear the danger when needed and can use his powerful 1.88m frame to dominate the opposition in the air. Furthermore, he is an accurate passer of the ball and doesn’t mind playing his way out from the back.
At 27, Skriniar is enjoying the peak stage of his playing career at the moment and is well-equipped to make an instant impact at the Nou Camp if Xavi can devise a way to get him on board at the end of this campaign.
Skriniar will no doubt enhance the quality of Barcelona‘s defence but it remains to be seen whether he can make a smooth transition to life in Spanish football. Still, the pros outweigh the cons of recruiting him, so Barca would be wise to snap him up on a free transfer when the player’s contract with Inter Milan runs out next summer.
