Spanish giants FC Barcelona are reportedly interested in bringing Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco to the Camp Nou this summer.
Yannick Carrasco has grown from strength to strength at the Vincente Calderon this past season. Since his move from Monaco last summer, the 22-year old has shown tremendous promise under Diego Simeone. According to Spanish publication Marca, Barcelona manager Luis Enrique is impressed by the progress of the Belgian winger in Spain, and is now planning to bring him to the Camp Nou.
Jorge Garcia of AS is of the opinion that Simeone and Atletico Madrid are doing everything they can to hold on to the player, and in case they are persuaded to let go of the 22-year old, a bid in the region of €40 million would be enough to lure him away from the Vincente Calderon. He also believes that the club had decided to hold talks with the player, but he decided against signing a new contract amidst interest from the Catalan side. The arrival of Nicolas Gaitan has also not gelled well with Carrasco, as the Argentine plays in the same position as the Belgian.
The 22-year old could see this as the perfect moment to leave and move on to one of the biggest clubs in the world. At Camp Nou, he would play alongside world class players and that could further elevate his game. He also has a knack for scoring in big matches, as he netted the equaliser in the Champions League final against Real Madrid. Carrasco also found the back of the net in Belgium’s 4-0 thumping of Hungary at Euro 2016.
Is Carrasco worth his asking rate?
A reported price of €40 million may be on the higher side for a 22-year old, but given the talent he possesses, it might prove to be a bargain. The Catalans have also been in the market looking for players to deputize for their attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. Carrasco may just fit the bill for the Spanish giants, and should any of them leave the club, the Belgian could fit right into the starting lineup.
Simeone handed just 16 starts to the Belgian, but he proved his worth in those matches by netting 4 goals and assisting another 5. Predominantly a left-winger, Carrasco was deployed on the opposite flank as well as through the middle, and still managed to showcase his talent. He has a phenomenal passing and dribbling prowess, and also enjoys having a go at set pieces. Much like Pedro, Carrasco could be used as a super-sub in his first season, and soon play a greater role in games as his experience increases.
