Sergi Samper: Pre-season with the first team... to convince Valverde
The midfielder will be back in Barcelona training on July 12 with his team-mates
Samper's year with Granada didn't go well but he may still have Camp Nou future
What should have been a great season for him, his first with FC Barcelona's first team, ended in the worst possible way for Sergi Sampe. Luis Enrique didn't count on him (as he didn't count on any academy product) and the club sought a loan. Granada seemed to be a good option, but in the end it was a huge disaster.
Samper joined a team who from the first moment were struggling to stay in the top division; a club with a lot of problems and a dark future. He was playing every now and again (injuries were another problem) until the final few games of the season, when, already relegated, he didn't even get in the match day squads.
The nightmare is over now and while he's enjoying his time off, Samper's not letting his fitness slide. Time passes quickly and on July 12 he has an important date. That's the day pre-season begins at Barcelona and he will be there to meet the new coach, Ernest Valverde. From that day on, there's one objective: to convince the new manager he has a place in the side next season.
It's true that, whether they sign players or not, there's an overbooking in midfield. But it is also true that of all the midfielders Samper has the best profile to replace Sergio Busquets when necessary. And that's his biggest strength. That and the fact that during his time with the club he's always demonstrated his quality and proved he can be useful to any team.
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