FC Barcelona has been tracking one of the great promises of European soccer for some time. A player who was once part of La Masia and was on the agenda of several major clubs. However, when everything pointed to him possibly landing at Camp Nou, RB Leipzig managed to get ahead with a convincing offer.
The player in question was very close to returning to PSG, but ultimately the German club secured his services. His great performance in the Bundesliga and in European competitions has made several top-tier teams interested in him again. Now, an old acquaintance of FC Barcelona appears on the scene to hinder any attempt by the culés to recover him.
Pep Guardiola, always alert to market movements, has set his sights on this young star to strengthen his attack for the next season. The Manchester City coach knows he needs reinforcements that provide imbalance and creativity in the final third of the field. With a squad full of stars, Guardiola continues to seek talents that fit into his dynamic and offensive soccer.
Guardiola Favorite to Sign Him
FC Barcelona, aware that the competition is fierce, won't have it easy if they want to secure his return. Although the player maintains a strong emotional bond with the blaugrana club, the possibility of working with Guardiola may weigh heavily. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig wouldn't be willing to let their star go at any price, especially after the investment made in this market.
The German entity paid a significant amount to secure his services and would only accept an offer that reflects his current market value. Something that could complicate Barcelona's aspirations, as they are not willing to pay a figure similar to what the Germans paid PSG. A few months ago, the former Spain coach, Luis Enrique also tried to convince Xavi Simons to return to wear the PSG jersey.
Simons Dreams of Returning to Barcelona
The culé board will have to move quickly if they want to prevent their former youth player from ending up at Etihad Stadium. Xavi Simons is clear that his dream is to wear the blaugrana jersey again, although he knows that going to City would be a giant step for his career. That and working with Guardiola, one of the coaches he admires most since he began his time at the Catalan club.
However, the conditions of the operation and his desire to continue progressing in a competitive environment led him to take another path. He also didn't see clearly having minutes in France and felt more comfortable in Germany, hence he didn't want to return to Paris. Now, with Josep Guardiola in the picture, the situation becomes even more complicated for FC Barcelona.