Real Madrid are reportedly debating on a prospective summer swoop for relegated Espanyol midfielder Marc Roca, who is also on the radar of Arsenal.
According to TransferMarketWeb, Marc Roca is courting a lot of interest from European bigwigs. Real Madrid are reportedly the latest club to enter the chase and are considering a summer move for the midfielder. The likes of Arsenal, AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Sevilla have all been named as suitors in the report.
Marc Roca has recently endured relegation as Espanyol were condemned to the Segunda Division after a defeat at the hands of Barcelona during the midweek. The Spanish midfielder is reportedly set to be available for €15 million despite a much heftier release clause, which is making the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and others seriously consider a summer approach.
#Espanyol’s Marc Roca has had a standout season for the side from Catalonia, who now sit rock bottom of La Liga.@GenZscouts takes a look at the midfielder who has caught the eye of a host of European clubs, including #Arsenal and #ACMilan…⬇️ (4/6)https://t.co/5OKl7Oj3jj pic.twitter.com/y9YeVDhclK
— ZICOBALL (@ZICOBALL) July 8, 2020
A holding midfielder by trade, Marc Roca has been a key member of the Espanyol squad for a couple of seasons now. The 2019/20 season so far has been one to forget for Espanyol fans and Roca’s form has somewhat mirrored that of his team. There has been a slight dip in his performances from last season despite being largely impressive, with just 2 goals and an assist to show for in 32 La Liga appearances.
What is baffling in the 23-year-old’s game is that there are no inherent weaknesses apart from a slight disadvantage in aerial situations. A master of recovering the ball and stopping the opposition momentum in midfield or during a counter, Roca is equally influential at the other end, with his vision and passing ability inferior to few, if at all on the pitch.
Naturally, the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal, AC Milan, Sevilla and Bayern Munich will be keen on the 23-year-old now that he is available.
For Arsenal, Roca presents the ideal opportunity to reinforce the midfield with quality while also not depleting or shrinking the transfer budget too much. The 23-year-old’s passing ability fits in well with the general Arsenal playing style while his holding midfield attributes would be of great help in rebuilding the squad under Mikel Arteta.
Real Madrid might have a large squad overhaul at hand in the summer. James Rodriguez and Luka Modric are reportedly on their way out, with one not preferred by Zinedine Zidane while the latter is already 34 and needs to be phased out of the squad. While Marc Roca’s skillset pits him directly in competition with Federico Valverde and Casemiro, Zidane could use Valverde as a box-to-box man and Roca as Casemiro’s competition.
Bayern Munich and AC Milan are set to undergo their respective overhauls in the summer, with new and incoming managers, respectively likely to be given the chance to build their own squad. €15 million for a 23-year-old midfielder who can act both as a ball recovery agent and playmaker in a quarterback role is a bargain however you look at it.
There is bound to be widespread interest in Roca’s services, especially with the 23-year-old unlikely to be looking forward to playing in the lower tier and it will be intriguing to see where he ends up.
