Barcelona’s pursuit of Nicolas Tagliafico has reached an undesired end, with talks between them and Ajax reportedly breaking down.
According to a report by Spanish publication MARCA, Nicolas Tagliafico will not be joining Barcelona ahead of the transfer deadline on Monday. Talks between Barcelona and Ajax have broken down, leaving the Argentine left-back in limbo.
Nicolas Tagliafico has been determined to leave Ajax this month after dropping down the pecking order at the club. Upon joining the Dutch giants in January 2018, the 29-year-old immediately established himself as a key figure for his team while also being a regular for the Argentine national side.
But the 2021/22 season has been one to forget for Tagliafico, with Daley Blind the first-choice left-back for Ajax. As a result, the Argentine defender has started only six of the 29 games played by Ajax this season, chipping in with two goals and an assist in the process. The player’s situation had captured the attention of Barcelona.
The Catalan giants hold a long-standing interest in Tagliafico, having made previous attempts to sign him. The continued eagerness to land the 29-year-old stems from Jordi Alba’s waning performance levels, prompting Xavi Hernandez to ask for a new left-back.
With Alejandro Balde struggling to show the desired levels since being promoted to the first-team squad, Barcelona’s need for a left-back has accentuated. Interestingly, Balde, who is primed for a bright future at Barcelona, was considered as a makeweight in the deal to sign Tagliafico.
But the prodigious defender had no intention of joining Ajax, even for a few months, thereby putting a spanner in the works for Barcelona. Nonetheless, the talks between the Blaugrana and Ajax continued, with the Dutch outfit showing a willingness to agree a deal for the Argentine left-back.
But the discussions have broken down completely over the weekend, leaving Tagliafico in a lurch. While the 29-year-old had been keen on joining Barcelona, a winter transfer appears highly unlikely, with the Catalan giants ending pursuit of the player. So, it looks like Barcelona will not sign a left-back this month, leaving Xavi with Alba and Balde as the only options at his disposal.
