Last minute loan? Barcelona trying to get Moroccan star for World Cup

Last minute signing for Barcelona? The Catalan club are looking to sign Moroccan World Cup star Sofyan Amrabat on the last day of the winter transfer window.

Before the World Cup, he was more or less an average Fiorentina player who certainly didn’t attract the interest of the big clubs. But the championship in Qatar changed his life, as it has for many footballers.

Sofyan Amrabat became the absolute star of the tournament, took Morocco all the way to third place and impressed several big clubs with his combativeness in midfield.

According to Spanish newspaper MARCA, the Catalan club will ask Fiorentina for a guest appearance followed by a transfer option. This is due to the fact that Barcelona cannot bring in new players already in the winter on transfer due to financial fair-play.

The Blaugranas were supposed to send the offer early Tuesday morning and have until midnight tonight, January 31, to close the deal. The option is expected to be worth €35 million, with a further €5 million in bonuses.

Amrabat is said to be a big favourite of Xavi Hernandez, who is trying to push through the transfer of the Moroccan. He was included in the best eleven at the World Cup and, in addition to Barcelona, Liverpool and Atlético Madrid were circling around him.

Amrabat would provide competition for Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong in the centre of midfield. This would leave Franck Kessié completely on the back burner.

However, it is questionable whether Fiorentina will be willing to let go of their key player. The management said shortly after the World Cup that they are still counting on the 26-year-old midfielder and have no plans to sell him. And if it does, it would probably rather get the money immediately than send him out on loan.

Source: MARCA