Xavi and Alemany's dilemma: How to solve Barça's left wing problem

One of the reinforcements requested by Xavi Hernández to Barcelona's sporting management headed by Mateu Alemany for next season is a pure left winger, a classic wide man.

In this sense, Barça have two options. One of them is already at the club. It is Ez Abde. The youngster has made the most of his loan spell at Osasuna. In an ideal context for him, he has grown tremendously under Jagoba Arrasate, with 32 games, six goals and two assists, being important in the classification of the Navarrese team for the Copa del Rey final and for Osasuna to continue fighting for the place that gives the right to play in the Conference League next season.

Barça, however, have an alternative. It is the Belgian Yannick Carrasco. When Barça transferred Memphis Depay to Atlético de Madrid in the January transfer window, they took out an option to buy the winger for around €15 million. Carrasco has had a great season and has convinced Xavi, who watched him play a great game at Spotify Camp Nou recently.

The dilemma

The coaches and the sporting management will have to decide on one of the options in the next few weeks. For starters, Abde will return to Barça, but tempting offers may come in to help with the viability plan presented to LaLiga. In recent days, Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen have shown an interest in him, but the Moroccan international, who has a contract until 30 June 2026, also has offers from England.

If the offer is good, the sporting management could decide to transfer Abde and then undertake the signing of Carrasco, a player that the coaches like a lot. Of course, Barça would try to reduce the amount of the purchase option they have on the Belgian, as his contract expires in 2024 and he has not wanted to renew it thinking of making the leap to Barcelona.