Barcelona are reportedly keen on re-signing Adrian Bernabe, who could return to Camp Nou from Manchester City on a free transfer.
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are weighing up the possibility of signing Adrian Bernabe from Manchester City on a Bosman move in the summer transfer window.
Bernabe spent his formative years at Barcelona, having been a part of the club’s famed academy, La Masia, before joining Manchester City in the summer of 2018 in order to complete his footballing education. Over the last three years, the youngster has grown steadily in the youth ranks of the English outfit, but is yet to establish a foothold in the first-team setup.
Till date, Bernabe has turned out just once for the senior side, with the said outing coming in the Carabao Cup this season. And, Bernabe now looks set to call it quits at Manchester City this summer, leaving the newly-crowned Premier League champions on a free transfer. And, keeping a keen eye on his situation are former club Barcelona.
Barcelona are already set to sign a couple of Manchester City players from Manchester City on a Bosman deal this summer, with Sergio Aguero set to undergo his medical soon while Eric Garcia is tipped for a free transfer as well. And, Bernabe could be the latest to arrive at Camp Nou without costing anything in way of transfer fee.
While slated to join Barcelona B initially, the report adds that there is a possibility that Bernabe could graduate quickly to the first-team setup as well. Having said that, it will be interesting to see how he is utilised, considering the 19-year-old has been converted into a left-back lately, having originally been a central midfielder.
If he continues to operate as a left-back, there could well be a place for him in the Barcelona senior side, with Junior Firpo failing to make an impression over the last couple of years. While Jose Gaya has been linked as a possible left-back signing, Bernabe might just be a low-cost solution, initially being an understudy to Jordi Alba before eventually taking over as the first-choice.
For now, though, it looks like Bernabe is set to become the third player to leave Manchester City to join Barcelona on a Bosman move in the summer transfer window. However, it remains to be seen if the Premier League heavyweights can do anything to turn his head and keep hold of the 19-year-old Spanish utility man.