Despite their early exit from the Champions League two seasons in a row, it is clear that Barcelona will eventually challenge for the European crown under the management of Xavi.
That claim largely boils down to how they have built their team since Joan Laporta and co. took over the club’s administration. The focus has been on signing young players that are likely to make a difference instantly, but also for years to come.
In that same core lies the heart of the project – their midfield. Headlined by none other than 20-year-old Pedri, the centre of the park also boasts of 18-year-old Gavi, 25-year-old Frenkie de Jong, and 19-year-old Pablo Torre, among others.
It is hardly surprising, though. A stellar midfield has always been associated with the club, ever since the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, and Deco were donning the blaugrana every week.
However, it seems Barcelona want to expand their arsenal and have kept their eye on a certain German prodigy – Florian Wirtz. Fabrizio Romano (h/t Reshad Rahman) has confirmed that the Catalans are keeping tabs on him for the future.
Real Madrid also have a keen eye on the teenager, the Italian journalist said (h/t Madrid Xtra).
Wirtz suffered from an ACL in March last year, which ruled him out of the winter World Cup. He only returned to action in December, playing friendlies for Bayer Leverkusen before bursting into action when the Bundesliga resumed in January.
Since then, he has two goals and fou assists in eight games, including a man-of-the-match performance against AS Monaco in the second leg of the Europa League knockout stages.
Wirtz has, in the past, been open about being a Barcelona fan, and his desire to play for the Catalan giants.
“I always want to be the best. As a kid, I dreamt of playing for Barcelona. That has not changed, but it can wait,” he had said back in 2021.
“Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele and Aubameyang, for example. My first jersey, however, was Messi’s Argentina jersey. When I was little, he was the best player. Nobody can play like him,” Wirtz also claimed last year in April.
That said, the 19-year-old has a contract with Leverkusen that will last until 2027. Any move for him in the summer is likely out of the question. And if he can keep up his stellar performances, it is unlikely he leaves for anything less than €100 million.
