Barcelona are reportedly open to selling Martin Braithwaite to Italian giants AS Roma provided an offer of around €14 million comes along.
According to a report from El Nacional, Barcelona are prepared to part ways with versatile forward Martin Braithwaite in the ongoing transfer window amid interest from Serie A bigwigs AS Roma.
Braithwaite arrived at Barcelona in February 2020 as an emergency signing due to an injury crisis. The Catalans shelled out a sum of €20 million to secure his services from Leganes, and the transfer was very much derided by fans, ex-players and pundits at the time. However, the Danish international has managed to win over supporters with his dedication and attitude on the pitch over time.
While he may not be the most gifted athlete, Braithwaite compensates for it with his versatility, industry and effort, while he has also scored a few crucial goals along the way for the Catalans. To date, he has featured 56 times for the La Liga bigwigs, scoring ten goals and registering five assists.
Braithwaite has not played for Barcelona since August last year as he picked up a serious injury early into the season. He is now closing in on a return but could find himself headed for the exit doors at Camp Nou as AS Roma are considering a January swoop for the Danish international.
The Giallorossi are in the market for attacking reinforcements as Jose Mourinho has lost faith in Borja Mayoral and is set to cut short the Real Madrid striker’s loan spell. His departure will open up a vacancy in the final third at the Italian capital club, which they are now hoping to fill with the signing of Braithwaite.
The report claims that the 30-year-old is in the plans of Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez. However, the club’s delicate financial situation, coupled with the arrival of Ferran Torres, could convince the Catalans to part ways with the former Middlesbrough and Leganes forward. But Joan Laporta & co. are set to demand a transfer fee of around €14 million for the Dane.
With Torres, Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay, along with youngsters Ferran Jutgla, Ez Abde and Ilias Akhomach, Barcelona have enough options in attack even if Ousmane Dembele is exiled after refusing to sign a new deal. Furthermore, they are also believed to be closing in on the capture of Alvaro Morata. So Braithwaite’s potential exit should not come as a major blow for the club.
Given that Roma themselves are not in the pinkest of health financially, it will be interesting to see whether they are in a position to match Barcelona’s valuation for Braithwaite.