Barcelona forward Braithwaite running out of time at Camp Nou

He arrived as almost the last option after an exhaustive search of the market as Barcelona sought a replacement for the injured duo of Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez. Lucas Perez and Angel were linked but the club finally spent 18 million euros on Leganes forward Martin Braithwaite. The Danish international had scored eight goals for a team embroiled in a relegation fight.

However, it's not been easy for him to convince Quique Setien and his coaching staff that he deserves more minutes. He's been motivated and enthusiastic from the off and that has not changed. He helped set up two goals off the bench on his debut against Eibar and came on in the Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu before making his full debut at Camp Nou against Real Sociedad, playing for 89 minutes and playing well. 

The coronavirus crisis halted his progression, though, and allowed Luis Suarez to return from an injury. After three months at home, Braithwaite started against Mallorca, responding with a good performance and a goal. 

But since then his presence in the side has continued to reduce. After not playing a single minute against his former side, Leganes, he started against Sevilla. He came off in the 63rd minute and since that has hardly counted for Setien. In the last six games he has played 51 minutes and two of the last three matches he's not even come on. 

It's difficult to understand what's happened with the Dane because Barça have been lacking a freshness that he could have added given he's played fewer minutes than many teammates -- not to mention his eagerness to impress. The injury to Antoine Griezmann gives him another chance going into the final two games, but it might not be enough to convince the staff and the club he deserves another opportunity next season and to ensure he's not among those made available for cash this summer...