Barcelona are one of the busiest clubs right now, in a world which has been halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Catalans want to revamp their team and rumours are flowing thick and fast. The latest report suggests that the Spanish giants want to bring Inter defender Milan Škriniar to Spain.
Mundo Deportivo states that in case Samuel Umtiti departs the club, Setién could bring Škriniar to his team. The report also states that Real Madrid are one of the teams that are in contention to sign the player as a potential long term replacement of Spain international Sergio Ramos.
What will he bring to the side?
Someone does not flirt with two of the best clubs in the world without possessing the special something. In that regard, Škriniar is undoubtedly an exceptional talent. Soon after he arrived from Sampdoria to Inter, the Slovakian established himself as a regular in the first team. He has made one of the centre-back positions his own in his three years with the Serie A side, playing a total of 97 league matches for the club.
The most significant attribute of Škriniar is his calmness and composure on the ball. His knack of perfectly timing the challenges can do wonders for his side. There is certain aggression in the Slovakia international, and he does not shy away from making tackles. Barcelona, in the absence of Umtiti, need someone with the element of hostility and Škriniar can be the perfect solution.
An upgrade over Umtiti?
Samuel Umtiti had joined Barcelona in 2016, and it can be safely said that the French player has been unable to live up to his massive expectations. He failed to establish himself as a regular in the side, and a large part of his misery can be blamed on the series of injuries that he sustained during his time at Camp Nou. Škriniar, on the other hand, is a lot less injury-prone, meaning that Barca would have him more available than the World Cup winner.
Although both of them are massively talented, Umtiti is more of a graceful defender than the Slovak. However, Škriniar has displayed the perseverance and the hard work required to rise up the ranks. If the proposed move to Barcelona happens, it would be the pinnacle of success for the Inter defender.
Overall, we could say that the Blaugrana have identified the perfect man to replace the French star, one who could lead the defence of the club in the foreseeable future.
