Reported Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur target Ilaix Moriba will have ‘no future’ at Barcelona unless he signs a new contract with the La Liga giants, vice-president Rafa Yuste told Mundo Deportivo.
You would think, at this stage, that Barca would be sick to the back teeth of drawn-out transfer sagas being played out in public for the world to see.
Less than a month after the heart-wrenching departure of the greatest player in their history, the Kings of Catalonia could be powerless to prevent their young prince leave his throne in the Camp Nou kingdom.
18-year-old midfield prodigy Moriba is yet to extend a contract that expires in 2022, Sport claiming that both parties are at an impasse due to Barcelona’s reluctance to hand the teenager a substantial pay rise.
Read the room Moriba.
If Barcelona cannot afford to keep Lionel Messi, they are not going to spend what little reserves they have on a player who, while undeniably talented, has just four La Liga starts on his CV.
Is Ilaix Moriba heading to the Premier League?
According to 90Min, Moriba’s camp have held talks with a host of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, Everton, Wolves and West Ham United.
Barcelona, meanwhile, would rather sell ‘the young Paul Pogba’ for around £21 million now than risk losing one of their prized assets for nothing.
Given the financial predicament they find themselves in, The Blaugrana really cannot afford let someone of Moriba’s talent and potential leave on a free transfer.
“If Ilaix does not change his position, he has no future in this club,” said Yuste, indicating that the La Masia graduate will be sold unless he puts pen to paper on a new deal.
“For me, what Ilaix and his camp are doing is a mistake.”
When asked about Moriba’s future on Friday, head coach Ronald Koeman struck a very similar tone.
“Ilaix’s situation is horrible,” Koeman said.
“My advice is that money cannot be the most important thing for an 18-year-old. It’s about playing games. But the player and his camp think differently. I am disappointed.”
Moriba was conspicuous by his absence this weekend too, omitted alongside the transfer-listed Miralem Pjanic and Samuel Umtiti as Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw by Athletic Bilbao.
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