Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly set to go head-to-head in pursuit of Marcelo Brozovic, with the Blaugrana holding talks with the Croat.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Marcelo Brozovic and his agent have held talks with Barcelona over a possible move in a future transfer window. Real Madrid and other European bigwigs are also courting the Inter Milan midfielder.
Marcelo Brozovic has blossomed into one of the best midfielders in Serie A since joining Inter Milan from Dinamo Zagreb. The Croat arrived at San Siro on an initial loan deal in January 2015 before he was signed permanently by the Nerazzurri eighteen months later.
To date, the 29-year-old has made 265 appearances for Inter Milan, chipping in with 26 goals and 35 assists in the process. However, the Serie A giants are in a precarious position over his long-term future, with the player in the final year of his contract with the club. Such a situation has alerted the who’s who of European football, including Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The interest from Barcelona is understandable, considering Sergio Busquets is in the twilight of his storied career. Recent reports have also claimed that the veteran midfielder could depart Camp Nou in the summer as part of the Blaugrana’s impending squad overhaul.
With doubts emerging around Frenkie de Jong’s future, Barcelona must be looking for a midfielder, making Brozovic a viable target. On the other hand, Real Madrid’s interest in the Inter Milan star could be stemming from recent speculation surrounding Paris Saint-Germain’s interest in Casemiro.
The Spanish giants need to invest in a midfielder anyway due to Luka Modric’s advancing age, with the Croat in the final phase of his career. And Brozovic could be the ideal target to replace his compatriot at Real Madrid. However, the report claims Brozovic’s credentials do not entirely convince the Merengues despite rumours of a possible offer.
Such a development has given Barcelona a window of opportunity, with Joan Laporta holding talks with the 29-year-old. The Catalan giants are also prepared to offer Brozovic a more lucrative deal, which seems unlikely, considering their financial woes. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if Barcelona can beat Real Madrid to the Croatian international’s signature.
