Gerard Deulofeu is reportedly unconvinced about a return to Barcelona in the summer.
Spanish publication Sport have reported Gerard Deulofeu is weighing up whether he wants to make a return to Barcelona in the summer transfer window, as he will only move to become a regular starter at Camp Nou.
Deulofeu joined Barcelona as a nine-year-old and made rapid strides in the youth setup before graduating to the first-team squad in 2011. His coaches at the Catalan club’s fabled La Masia academy had tipped the Spaniard for a big future at Camp Nou, but the player could never quite make it count in the senior side.
Deulofeu was sent on two loan spells to Everton and Sevilla before he made a permanent switch to Goodison Park last season. His career at Everton, though, has been quite a topsy turvy one as after initially being one of the first names on the team sheet under Roberto Martinez, he has struggled for form under Ronald Koeman.
Having failed to turn in consistent performances for the Toffees, he was subsequently sent on loan to AC Milan where he has rediscovered his best touch. Deulofeu played 17 times for the Rossoneri in the Serie A, bagging four goals and three assists.
His stellar contributions for the Italian giants have led to speculation that the player could be set for a return to Barcelona in the summer. The Blaugranas have an option to buy Deulofeu back for €12 million and it is believed that they are ready to make a move for him in the summer.
Indeed, Barcelona’s sporting director, Robert Fernandez has even gone on record to suggest that the club are keen to exercise their buy-back clause. They need to convince Deulofeu to give a go ahead to the move, though, which is turning out to be a big stumbling block.
The 23-year-old is unconvinced about returning to his boyhood club this summer as he has doubts over being a regular starter at Camp Nou. Indeed, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar being indispensable figures in attack, it is hard to see how Deulofeu will fit in the scheme of things.
The Everton attacker also wants to make the Spain squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and he can only manage that if he gets regular game time. Robert Fernandez, thus, has a sizable task on his hand to convince Deulofeu to move back to Barcelona before the buy-back clause expires on June 30.
