Discover which player Luis Enrique is delighted with at Barcelona
After impressing for Valencia, this midfielder became an obsession for the Barça coaching staff
He has started five of Barcelona's last six games after an irregular start to the season. And Luis Enrique is delighted with his performances. Little by little, Andre Gomes has won his place in the Barça side and against Osasuna he was even picked ahead of Ivan Rakitic in the rotation game.
The Portuguese midfielder has convinced Luis Enrique, who didn't use him in the big games in the early months of the campaign. Now Rakitic doesn't seem untouchable, despite being a key part of the success enjoyed over the last two seasons.
The Croatian is the most substituted midfielder at Barça this season, although he's still been a fixture in big games. After the return of Andres Iniesta, though, and seeing Gomes' growing role, we will have to see if Rakitic keeps his place in the second half of the season.
Both the Croatian and the Portuguese are Luis Enrique's type of player. They both get up and down, mixing technique with physique. In the case of Rakitic, he adds a lot in defence.
Gomes' profile is more attacking. Luis Enrique may even think he's more versatile because he's used him as a replacement for Sergio Busquets on more than one occasion, too.
After arriving from Valencia for an initial fee of 35 million euros, Robert Fernandez said he was "an opportunity" which couldn't be turned down, with those comments dating back to his performance at Camp Nou on Apr. 18 of this year.
He put in a performance which impressed Barça's coaching team as Valencia won the game. From that moment, the Portuguese midfielder became an obsession.
