Villarreal vice-president Jose Manuel Llaneza has played down talks that Juan Foyth could join Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
In an interview with DAZN, Jose Manuel Llaneza has spoken about the speculation surrounding the future of Juan Foyth. The Villarreal vice-president has played down talks that the 24-year-old Argentine international could be heading to Barcelona before the end of the summer transfer window.
Juan Foyth has resurrected his stuttering career since joining Villarreal from Tottenham Hotspur. The Yellow Submarine initially signed the versatile defender on loan for the second half of the 2020/21 season before completing a permanent transfer last summer. And Foyth has not looked back since then.
The 24-year-old had managed only 30 appearances in three seasons with Tottenham, but he has already doubled that tally at Estadio de la Ceramica. The Argentine defender has been a mainstay at the back for Villarreal in the last 18 months, turning out 72 times for them. And Foyth’s progress has not gone unnoticed either, with Barcelona reportedly keen on signing him this summer.
The interest in Foyth cropped up amid concerns over signing Cesar Azpilicueta from Chelsea. And the fears materialised, with the Spaniard choosing to remain at the west London club beyond the summer transfer window. With Dani Alves no longer at Camp Nou and Xavi Hernandez deeming Sergino Dest surplus to requirements, Barcelona’s need to sign a right-back has accentuated.
?️@ainhoaperez27: "¿Está preparado el Villarreal por una posible salida como puede ser la de Foyth?"
?️ "No estamos por la labor de vender a Juan (Foyth)"
José Manuel Llaneza, vicepresidente del @VillarrealCF en DAZN ?#LaLigaEnDAZN ⚽ pic.twitter.com/FU8ljgYzts
— DAZN España (@DAZN_ES) August 21, 2022
Foyth has thus emerged as a viable target for Barcelona, with the Argentine international reportedly keen on joining the Blaugrana. But Foyth will not arrive at Camp Nou in the summer transfer window, with Jose Manuel Llaneza ruling out a departure for the 24-year-old.
Speaking to DAZN, the Villarreal vice-president said, “We don’t have to prepare ourselves, La Liga are prepared to accept the release clause but we are not in the business of selling any player, least of all Juan.”
“There has been no need to do anything. It is a case similar to Lo Celso, he wants to play for Villarreal, he wants to be here. Naturally, if an offer came from a big club, then I would have to study it, but I have just spoken with the representatives now and there is no issue that indicates that this could happen.”
The latest development comes as a blow for Barcelona, with the search for a right-back not bearing any fruit. It will be interesting to see if the Catalan giants turn to an alternative, with Achraf Hakimi and Vanderson among the right-backs on their radar.