Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique is allegedly desperate for his club to sign Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsi.
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique is reportedly desperate for his club to secure the signature of Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsi.
The 17-year-old made his breakthrough into the Catalan outfit’s first team in January, and he was a key player in the second half of last season, ending the campaign with 24 appearances in all competitions.
Cubarsi has also been a vital player for Barcelona this season, making 11 appearances, while he has been named in the latest Spain squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures,
In May, Cubarsi penned a new deal with Barcelona until 2027, with his release clause being set at €500m (£418.9m), placing the La Liga giants in a strong position when it comes to his future.
However, according to Fichajes, PSG boss Enrique has urged senior figures at the club to pursue the teenager, and it is possible that the two teams could enter into negotiations in the near future.
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PSG ‘identify Cubarsi as leading transfer target’
The report claims that Barcelona have ‘no intention’ of letting him leave, but ‘a considerable fee’ would likely be considered due to the La Liga club’s delicate financial situation.
Cubarsi made history when he started against Napoli in the Champions League earlier this year, becoming the youngest player to debut at 17 years and 50 days old in the knockout round of the competition.
The Spaniard then became the youngest defender to start in the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the age of 17 years and 79 days old, with incredible faith being placed in him.
There had been huge speculation surrounding Cubarsi’s future earlier this year, with both Manchester United and Arsenal said to be interested in his signature, but Barcelona managed to sign him to a new contract.
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Should Barcelona consider selling Cubarsi?
Ultimately, money talks in football, and PSG are one of a select few clubs in the world that would be capable of pulling off such a transfer swoop.
At one stage, a Lionel Messi departure from Barcelona seemed unthinkable, but the Argentine left the Catalan outfit on a free transfer and then made the move to PSG, so it is not impossible to imagine Cubarsi in the French capital.
Barcelona will need to make a big sale next summer due to their financial situation, but an exit for Cubarsi should not be considered under any circumstances.
The Spaniard has the potential to become one of the top centre-backs in world football in the coming years, and if Barcelona are to return to the top of Spanish and European football, then they simply have to keep hold of him.
The same can also be said of Lamine Yamal – another player admired by PSG – with an exit for the 17-year-old all but impossible due to his standing as one of the best young talents in world football.