One centre back isn’t enough to complete the revolution Barcelona are trying to accomplish when it comes to their defensive players. Marquinhos of PSG, the young Brazilian centre back they’ve tried to sign in the past, might be the one coming next.
Barcelona have just completed the signing or Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia, paying €20 million for the 30 year old defender who has played more and more as a centre back in recent seasons. Considering the problems Barcelona had in recent seasons when it comes to finding capable players for their back four, more than just one signing will be enough, as the club is heading more and more towards the direction of filling their needs in the transfer market instead through their own youth system.
Marquinhos has made quite an impression in Europe over the last couple of years. He had a great debut season with Roma in 2012-2013, earning him a €31.4 million signing by PSG. With the French champions he never got consistent playing time in the starting lineup, usually playing behind Thiago Silva and Alex. Still, this is a player that most regard to be one of the biggest young talents in Europe.
While PSG would like to keep him – their starting central defenders aren’t getting any younger, Marquinhos is unsettled at the club, and with financial fair play bearing down their necks and more signings they’re intending to preform this summer, first and foremost Angel di Maria, selling him becomes more than a luxury but something they might actually be forced to do in order to open up the opportunity to make other big signings.
Barcelona, according to Cadena SER, will have to pay around €40 million in order to sign Marquinhos, which will bring their spending to more than €150 million this summer. They have sold players for quite a lot of money, and yet this still remains a huge expenditure that might be difficult for them to complete or agree to, unless another arrangement can be reached.