Marquinhos is reportedly ready to snub interest from Real Madrid to join Barcelona from PSG in the summer.
According to a report by Spanish publication Don Balon, Marquinhos is eager to leave PSG to join Barcelona in the summer transfer window. The Brazilian centre-back is the subject of interest from Real Madrid, but is ready to snub interest from Los Blancos.
Marquinhos joined PSG from AS Roma in the summer of 2013, and has since slowly risen in stature at the Ligue 1 club. Now a mainstay at the back, the player is finally on his way to make good on the promise of being one of the most highly-rated defenders in the world.
This season, Marquinhos has made 33 appearances across all competitions for PSG, also contributing to his team’s cause with two goals and three assists. But, his time at Parc des Princes appearing to be coming to an end, with Real Madrid interested in him, and the player eyeing an opportunity with Barcelona.
Real Madrid have failed to look the part at the back for much of the campaign, with defenders being uncharacteristically error prone. To make matters worse, Raphael Varane’s future is uncertain at the club, and with Jesus Vallejo not managing to impress much, Marquinhos is a viable target.
At Barcelona, the situation is a little different.
The Blaugrana have been largely imperious at the back this season, with Samuel Umtiti being a colossal figure for them. But, the Frenchman’s future at Camp Nou is uncertain, with Real Madrid coincidentally one of the clubs in his pursuit. With Gerard Pique and Thomas Vermaelen on the wrong side of 30, the need to sign a defender is becoming urgent for Barcelona.
But, while Barcelona have been linked with a number of centre-backs in recent weeks, Marquinhos isn’t one of them, yet. The Catalans have previously been credited with interest in the Brazil international, but Real Madrid are the only major side in his pursuit so far.
The player though, has his heart set on a move to Barcelona to replace Umtiti, who the La Liga leaders had signed in his stead in the summer of 2016. Marquinhos’s desire to represent them might just prompt the Blaugrana to reignite their interest in him too, which would be a bitter blow to Real Madrid’s aspirations to sign him.
It now remains to be seen if Barcelona indeed decide to pursue a move for Marquinhos. If not, it will be interesting to see if he chooses to join Real Madrid instead, with the player eager to taste Champions League success, a competition Los Blancos have been supremely consistent in in recent seasons.
