In a recent report, Sport stated that Barcelona have set their sights on Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Wendel this summer. It has been claimed that the Catalan club are eyeing a move to lure the Brazilian talent to the Nou Camp this summer.
Wendel’s Impressive Season In Russian Football
Wendel experienced an impressive campaign at the Catalan club after he put in a series of solid performances for them in the middle of the park. The 26-year-old scored four times and secured ten assists in 35 matches for Barcelona last season across all fronts.
The Brazilian talent was an influential presence at the centre of the park based on his average of 0.9 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 1.4 shots, 1.5 key passes and 1.0 dribbles per game in the Russian Premier League. He was even tidy when interchanging possession with his teammates, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 89.2% in the Russian top tier (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at Zenit will expire in the summer of 2027 which could make it difficult for Hansi Flick to sign him on a cut-price deal later this year.
What Will Wendel Add To Barcelona Boss Hansi Flick’s Team?
Wendel doesn’t mind working hard for his team defensively. He can strike the ball with power and precision from long range. The Brazilian talent has got the eye to set up some decent plays for others around him in the final third He can even make some driving runs with the ball from midfield.
Wendel mainly operates as a defensive midfielder but can also play as a right-sided wide player if needed. We can expect him to add more energy and dynamism to Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick’s midfield department.
At 26, Wendel has got his peak years ahead of him which makes him a decent option for the Catalan club to pursue in this summer transfer period. However, only time will tell whether he can make a smooth transition to life in La Liga if Barca manage to bring him to the Nou Camp before the start of the new campaign. All in all, Flick should focus on recruiting him soon as he could help Barca compete for some major trophies in the coming years.
