Barcelona have reportedly set their sights on Bayern Munich midfielder Marc Roca as a long-term replacement for captain Sergio Busquets.
According to a report from Fichajes, Barcelona are looking to secure a long-term replacement for club captain Sergio Busquets and have shortlisted three names, one of which happens to be Bayern Munich star Marc Roca.
Busquets has been an ever-present in the Barcelona lineup for years now, but he will soon turn 34 and will need his game time managed going forward as he enters the final phase of his career. The Catalans lack cover in the No. 6 position in the squad currently, prompting them to enter the market for a player who can provide backup initially before eventually replacing the Spaniard in the long run.
Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is a player on Barcelona’s list. At the same time, they are also linked with Olympique Marseille Boubacar Kamara, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. Now, they have also identified Bayern Munich midfielder Marc Roca as a potential option.
A product of the RCD Espanyol youth academy, the midfielder broke into the first-team setup at the Catalan outfit in 2016, at the age of 19. He made 121 appearances for the club before leaving for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2020. The move has not worked out well for Roca, though, as he has struggled to feature regularly in Bavaria.
To date, he has played just 21 times for the German champions in close to two years, with just ten of those appearances coming in the ongoing campaign. His game-time is likely to take a further hit as Bayern Munich are looking to bring in another midfielder in the summer transfer window.
An exit looks probable, and Barcelona are hoping to capitalise on the situation by offering Roca a way out. The Blaugrana had their sights set on the former Spanish Under-21 international before his transfer to Bayern Munich. Now that he is poised to walk out of the Allianz Arena, they have rekindled their interest in the midfielder.
Roca has plenty of experience in La Liga and has the required skillset to replace Busquets in the long run. At 25, the former Espanyol ace also has his best years in front of him, making him a viable option for Barcelona. Given his situation at Bayern Munich, he would be available for a reasonable price as well.
