Barcelona President Joan Laporta manages expectations for the replacement of Sergio Busquets

Barcelona President Joan Laporta has acknowledged that the club may have to manage their expectations regarding the replacement for Sergio Busquets this summer. While coach Xavi Hernandez has expressed the need for a new midfielder as their top priority, Laporta has revealed that their preferred targets are currently beyond their financial reach.

In a recent interview with La Vanguardia, as reported by Marca, Laporta addressed the issue of the pivot position in the team. He acknowledged that Xavi understands the club’s current situation and the limitations they face in the transfer market.

“He [Xavi] understands the club’s situation. He would like to strengthen the midfield, but he knows that some options are unfeasible and it would be a mistake to pursue them,” Laporta stated.

Laporta also confirmed that there would be no issues in extending Xavi’s contract, indicating the club’s commitment to the coach’s vision and plans for the future.

Initially, reports suggested that Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi was Xavi’s preferred choice to replace Busquets. However, Zubimendi’s high release clause of €60 million and his desire to stay at Real Sociedad made the transfer unviable. Since then, the names of Dani Parejo, Marcelo Brozovic, and even Joshua Kimmich have been mentioned as potential targets.

Currently, the frontrunner for the position is Oriol Romeu, a veteran midfielder from Girona. Although he may not be the club’s or Xavi’s first choice, Romeu’s impressive performances for Girona, coupled with his background as a former La Masia product, make him a valuable addition to the team. Laporta acknowledged the club’s interest in Romeu and mentioned that such options are being considered by the technical department.

“He has had an extraordinary year at Girona, he came from La Masia. This type of option is being worked on by the technical department. We’ll see,” Laporta commented.

While Barcelona may not be able to secure their top targets, Laporta’s comments suggest that they are actively exploring alternative options to strengthen the midfield and provide Xavi with the necessary resources to shape the team according to his vision.