In a recent report, Sport mentioned that Barcelona are eyeing a move for AS Monaco full-back Caio Henriqué this summer. It is understood that the Catalan giants could move in for the Brazilian defender if they fail to sign Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso during this summer transfer period.
Henrique’s Decent Numbers At Stade Louis II
Henrique had an impressive campaign at Monaco recently as he put in a series of productive displays on the left side of their defence. The Santos-born sensation registered two goals and 13 assists in 49 matches for the French outfit last season across all fronts.
The 24-year-old caught the eye by averaging 1.6 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 1.0 clearances, 0.6 shots and 1.3 key passes per game in Ligue 1. He has even been tidy with his ball distribution after making 78.8% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
What Will Henrique Bring To Barcelona?
Henrique is a solid tackler of the ball and can earn possession back for his side inside his half. He usually clears the danger when needed and is an excellent playmaker in the final third. The Brazilian talent can even chip in by netting the odd goal from time to time. He is primarily a left-back but can even fill in as a left-sided wide player or as an attacking midfielder if needed.
Somone of Henrique’s skillset will be a decent addition to Barcelona‘s squad ahead of the new campaign. He will bring a lot of quality to Xavi‘s defence and could prove himself to be an upgrade over Jordi Alba who is way past his prime at the Catalan club.
At 24, Henrique has a bright future ahead of him which makes him a good, long-term option for Barcelona to pursue in this off-season. He has what it takes to help the Catalan outfit challenge for major trophies once again in the coming seasons.
However, it remains to be seen whether he can replicate his good form in Spain where he previously struggled to prove his worth at Atletico Madrid. Still, the pros outweigh the cons of recruiting him, so Barca should try everything they can to get him on board this summer.
