THE GALICIAN WAS RECOMMENDED TO HANSI FLICK
The key person for Barça to decide to go for Bajcetic
Published:29/08/2024 - 00:43h
Updated:29/08/2024 - 00:55h
FC Barcelona appear to have decided on Stefan Bajcetic as an 'emergency' signing following Marc Bernal's injury. The Galician midfielder was recommended to the Barça coaching staff by Thiago Alcántara, who played with him at Liverpool
Stefan Bajcetic is gaining ground as a new FC Barcelona player this week. The 19-year-old midfielder has entered the Barça orbit after Marc Bernal's injury thanks to the recommendation of Thiago Alcántara. The current Barça assistant coach coincided with the Galician in his last two seasons in England and spoke wonders of his technical characteristics, although he missed almost all of last season due to injury.
In that sense, Thiago's opinion seems to have convinced Hansi Flick to opt for the Celta de Vigo youth player. Bajcetic landed in Liverpool in 2021 and, after a year in the 'reds' youth system, he made the jump to the first team in 2022/23. That season he managed to gain the trust of Jurgen Klopp, playing a total of 26 games (1,448 minutes) in which he scored 1 goal and 1 assist.
The Galician player proved to be a very organised pivot, judicious with the ball and capable of covering spaces with ease, being a player with very similar characteristics to Bernal. With Marc Casadó and Eric García as the only alternatives for the position (pending the return of Frenkie de Jong), Barça has become convinced of the need to sign a pivot in the last 48 hours of the summer transfer market, despite having little salary margin.
Physical aspect, the big question for Barça with Bajcetic
However, the option of Bajcetic raises some doubts in the Barça environment, mainly due to the physical aspect. Stefan missed almost all of last season due to two muscle injuries and has not played an official match since May 5 (he played 25 minutes against Tottenham in his only appearance in the Premier League). Although he had training in the preseason, coach Arne Slot does not count on him and Liverpool accepted his loan departure.
In that sense, RB Salzburg was the club best positioned to take the services of the Galician until Barça's appearance on Wednesday. According to the latest information, the Catalans would accept a simple loan in exchange for 4 million euros, a figure that would not cause any inconvenience to the club to sign him in place of the injured Marc Bernal. The player has a contract until 2027 and in Merseyside they trust in his revaluation this season thanks to his departure.
