In a recent report, Fichajes stated that Barcelona are showing interest in Porto midfielder Alan Varela. It has been claimed that the Catalan club are eyeing a move to recruit the Argentine talent next year.
Varela’s Impressive Form In Portuguese Football This Season
Varela has made a solid start to his Porto career after putting in some impressive displays for them during this campaign. He previously made a name for himself at Boca Juniors where he continued to mature as a footballer over the past few years.
The 22-year-old has made seven appearances for the Portuguese giants thus far but is still waiting to score or assist his first goal for them across all fronts.
The Argentine sensation has anchored the midfield well by averaging 0.6 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 0.8 clearances per 90 minutes in Liga Portugal. He was even accurate when distributing the ball after completing 86.6% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Portuguese club will expire in the summer of 2028. Hence, it won’t be easy for Barca to get him on board on a cut-price deal next year.
What Will Varela Bring To Barcelona?
Varela is a tough-tackling midfielder who can sense the danger quickly to earn possession back for his team inside his half. He usually clears the danger when the opposition are on the front foot and is a good passer of the ball as well.
The South American midfield ace will only get better as he matures as a footballer in the coming seasons. We can expect him to bring some bite and steel to Barcelona head coach Xavi’s midfield department.
At 22, Varela has got a bright future ahead of him which makes him a worthy target for the Catalan club to pursue this January or at the end of this campaign. He might even help Barca compete across all competitions in the future.
However, the Argentine talent would need time to settle into life at the Nou Camp if Barca manage to get a deal done for him next year. Still, the pros outweigh the cons of signing someone with Varela’s skillset and potential, so Xavi should focus on securing his services soon.
