La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly considering 21-year-old Almeria full-back Marc Pubill as an alternative to Joao Cancelo.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Joao Cancelo remains the top target for Barcelona to bolster the right-back berth in the summer transfer window. However, the Catalan giants are keeping their options open, identifying Marc Pubill as the ideal alternative to the Manchester City outcast, with the Almeria full-back available for a move.
The Marc Pubill story
Marc Pubill has made considerable progress since joining Almeria from Levante last summer. A native of Terrassa, the Spaniard passed through the academies at four clubs in his youth career and graduated from the youth division at Levante UD.
Almeria struggled throughout the 2023/24 season as they bowed out of La Liga. While Pubill has not been the undisputed first-choice right-back for the Spanish club, he has made his mark in his 24 outings thus far, chipping in with one goal and three assists. However, the 21-year-old has seen his stock soar after being a part of Spain’s triumphant campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Meanwhile, Marc Pubill’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe. Recent reports have linked the Spanish full-back with Premier League clubs like Newcastle United and West Ham United. The Olympic gold medalist was also close to joining Atalanta before a move failed to materialise. His next destination might be FC Barcelona.
Barcelona interested in Pubill
Barcelona’s interest in Marc Pubill is understandable. The Catalan giants have been keen on signing a right-back in the summer transfer window after Joao Cancelo’s loan spell ended a few weeks ago. The Manchester City outcast Barcelona’s priority target to bolster the right-back berth.
However, while the Catalan giants are hopeful of sealing the deal to secure Joao Cancelo’s services, competition from the big-spending Saudi Pro League clubs puts them in a spot of bother. Pubill has thus emerged as a viable target for Barcelona.
The 21-year-old Olympics 2024 gold medalist was close to joining Atalanta in a package worth €20 million. That might be the upper limit for the transfer fee to secure Marc Pubill’s services. So, it will be interesting to see if the Spaniard returns to La Liga by joining Barcelona this summer.
