Barcelona Leapfrog Liverpool In Race To Sign This Italian Midfielder: Decent Option For The Catalans? | OneFootball

In a recent report, Mundo Deportivo has mentioned that Barcelona have leapfrogged Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in the race to sign AS Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini this summer. It has been revealed that the Catalans have already made an attempt to secure the services of the Italian midfield ace in this off-season (via Mundo Deportivo).

Pellegrini’s Impressive Form In Italian Football Last Season

Pellegrini encountered a productive spell with the Italian outfit in the previous campaign as he was responsible for putting in a series of eye-catching displays for them at the centre of the park. The 24-year-old featured in 47 matches for his current employers last season, registering 11 goals and nine assists in various competitions.

The Italian midfield ace did well to average  1.2 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 0.6 clearances, 2.1 shots, 1.9 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per 90 minutes in the 2020-21 Serie A season. He also took care of the ball when distributing it from midfield based on his pass completion rate of 82% in league football (stats via whoscored).

Pellegrini has begun to prove his value at the highest level and deserves credit for transforming himself into a consistent performer at the Stadio Olimpico. He is only going to get better in the coming seasons when he hits the peak stage of his playing career, so Barca would be wise to get him on board during this summer transfer window.

Will Pellegrini Be A Decent Option For The Catalans?

Pellegrini is a moderately paced midfielder who is not shy of making some energetic runs with the ball towards the opponent’s penalty area. He has a good football IQ that helps get into a few dangerous areas in the attacking third. The Italian sensation can shoot the ball with power and accuracy from long range as well. Furthermore, he can also protect his backline with conviction as he can make some crunching tackles to disrupt the opposition’s rhythm and earn possession back for his team.

An all-around midfielder like Pellegrini will be a shrewd addition to Barca’s squad in this off-season. He will undeniably add more competition for Riqui Puig, Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets for a first-team spot at the Nou Camp.

Hence, the Spanish heavyweights should think about going all out to win the chase for Pellegrini’s services this summer. The Italian talent will be a great option for Barca as long as they plan to play him regularly in the coming seasons. Pellegrini might also form a fruitful midfield partnership with Frenkie de Jong that might make the Catalan outfit formidable in the UEFA Champions League again over the next few seasons.