Xavi Hernandez is reportedly not keen on bringing 24-year-old Lille midfielder Renato Sanches to Barcelona this month.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Joan Laporta and Xavi Hernandez could be at loggerheads in the pursuit of Renato Sanches. While the Barcelona president is ready to sign the Lille midfielder in the ongoing transfer window, Xavi is reluctant to sign the 24-year-old.
Renato Sanches has turned his career around superbly since joining Lille from Bayern Munich in August 2019. The Portuguese international’s development had come to a grinding halt during his three-year stint with the Bundesliga heavyweights while also losing his spot in the national side.
Since arriving at Stade Pierre Mauroy, the 24-year-old has become a more consistent performer and played a crucial role in Lille’s shock Ligue 1 triumph in the 2020/21 season. To date, Sanches has made 76 appearances for Les Dogues, with his performances getting noticed by some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Barcelona.
Barcelona had also been keen on signing Sanches in the summer transfer window before an untimely injury forced his suitors to put off their moves until the January transfer window. The Blaugrana’s interest in the Portuguese midfielder has not waned much, and for a very good reason.
While Xavi Hernandez has several talented midfielders at his disposal, Frenkie de Jong is bizarrely facing an uncertain future at Camp Nou amid Barcelona’s financial struggles. The Catalan giants could cash in on the Dutchman to balance their books and fund crucial transfers in the summer transfer window.
If de Jong were to depart, Xavi would be left with prodigious teenagers like Pedri, Gavi and Nico Gonzalez at his disposal. With Sergio Busquets in the twilight of his career, Barcelona’s need to bolster the midfield is further accentuated, making Sanches a viable target.
Joan Laporta is also prepared to launch the offensive for the 24-year-old in the ongoing transfer window, especially with his price tag plummeting in the last few months. However, Xavi is reluctant to bring Sanches into his squad over from Ligue 1 club Lille, creating an impasse situation between the two decision-makers at Barcelona.
Xavi is not convinced by Sanches’s qualities and could ask Laporta to look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements. But there is no shortage of options on Barcelona’s reported short-list of targets, with Naby Keita among their options.
