The story of Franck Kessie is one prime example of how patience can always pay off in the world of football.
Once regarded as one of Serie A’s best midfielders, Kessie had joined Barcelona on a free transfer last summer. But he endured a difficult start to the campaign, as he failed to adapt to Xavi’s system and fell behind the likes of Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Pedri in the pecking order.
His lack of prominence in the team led to speculations over his long-term future at Camp Nou, with Inter Milan, among other clubs, notably trying to snap him up in the January transfer window.
But Kessie remained patient and steadfast in his desire to succeed at Barcelona, thereby remaining at Camp Nou in January.
A few months into 2023, Kessie’s patience is bearing fruit as the midfielder has carved out a place for himself in Xavi’s first-team plans, albeit helped by the injury of Pedri. Kessie’s redemption was notable in Barcelona’s recent win over Real Madrid, with the midfielder playing a starring role.
In light of his turnaround, a recent report from SPORT suggests Kessie has now become a non-transferrable entity in Barcelona. It appears Xavi is highly impressed by the midfielder’s performances and considers him a vital part of his project.
The likes of Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Kessie in the coming summer, with Antonio Conte, in particular, determined to snap him up as part of his plan to add more reinforcements in the middle of the park.
Barcelona, though, have no intention to consider a sale just yet. Although the situation could change if the Catalans fall into another economic misery, one could expect the club to find other avenues to reduce the overall salary mass of the squad, in an attempt to adhere to the Financial Fair Play regulations in the coming summer.
