Spanish giants Barcelona are reportedly keeping an eye on 20-year-old AS Roma winger Cengiz Under.
As per a report in Spanish publication AS, AS Roma Director of Football Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo revealed in an interview with Turkish media outlet Radyospor that the Catalan giants were interested in Cengiz Under and had even enquired about the young Turk.
Verdejo, more commonly known as Monchi reportedly said, “Bayram Tutumlu, who has a good relationship with Barcelona, he told me that they have asked for the boy, we do not have any big offers, but surely many teams will follow him, because his youth and his goals help.”
Barcelona’s interest in the Altinordu F.K. youth product comes as no surprise given his performances this season. After being purchased by the Giallorossi for €13.4 million in the summer, Cengiz Under has managed to break into the starting XI with his energetic performances.
? – Cengiz Ünder’e teklif var mı?
? “Çok önemli bir oyuncu olacağını düşünüyoruz. Biz de bu potansiyeli ortaya çıkarması için yardım ediyoruz. İleride Iniesta mı olur, David Silva mı olur bilemem ama önemli bir oyuncu olacak.” https://t.co/3zZgeOf3AH pic.twitter.com/YimxW09wLM
— Radyospor (@radyospor) March 26, 2018
In 24 games across all competitions, Cengiz has already scored 6 goals and provided 1 assist. Primarily a right winger, he has also been deployed on the left as well as in a more central role on occasion this season and in 2018, is well on his way to make that right wing slot his own.
At only 20 years of age, he would make a good addition to Barcelona’s squad. A direct runner, Cengiz is very good with the ball at his feet, lightning quick, a good crosser of the ball with a keen eye for a pass. More importantly, he is young enough for them to give him time to get used to their style of play.
With the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Luis Suarez moving into their thirties, Barcelona do need to start thinking of the future. While young Cengiz is certainly talented, he is by no means ready to compete with Barcelona’s current attack for a starting berth.
He could, however, serve as an understudy to the Argentine, while also competing with Philippe Coutinho, Paco Alcacer, Denis Suarez and Ousmane Demebele for places in the squad. We can certainly expect Barcelona to keep a close eye on the youngster over the course of their UEFA Champions League quarter-finals clash, the first of which will be at the Stadio Olimpico next week.
