Xavi's clear Lenglet message: French defender must leave Barcelona

Xavi's clear Lenglet message: French defender must leave Barcelona

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The defender was not included in the side vs. Frankfurt despite defensive issues

Clement Lenglet is beginning to see that he is not in Xavi Hernandez's plans. If his lack of action has made it clear so far, the team selection against Eintracht Frankfurt was a clear message.

Xavi has been playing Ronald Araujo at right-back recently but he moved him inside to avoid playing Lenglet and picked Oscar Mingueza at right-back, with Eric Garcia the second centre-back and Lenglet on the bench.

It's clear the French defender does not convince Xavi and Barça are ready to let him leave this summer, with a lot of interest across Europe.

Lenglet joined Barça for €35 million from Sevilla and quickly won his place in the team with Samuel Umtiti repeatedly injured. But his importance has decreased over the last year and his role is now testimonial behind Araujo, Garcia and Gerard Pique.

Barça were open to offers in January but Lenglet wanted to stay. There was interest as there are not many left-footed centre-backs on the market. He's a France international and has done well at times for Sevilla and Barça.

Arsenal, Newcastle and Inter have all asked in the past. Like Umtiti, Lenglet is available this summer.

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