Barcelona loanee does not want to return to Camp Nou, looking to extend his loan | OneFootball

One of the most controversial transfers under Josep Maria Bartomeu was the swap deal between Barcelona and Juventus at the end of June 2020. The deal saw fan-favourite Arthur Melo depart to Italy while Miralem Pjanic joined the Catalan club.

However, the Bosnian did not have it easy at his new club. Despite having a profile the most European clubs would crave, the midfielder struggled for minutes under Ronald Koeman.

His desperate situation at the club soon led to a personal grudgery against the then manager. Unsurprisingly, Pjanic took the next immediate exit he could find and joined Besiktas in September on a loan move.

According to reports from Daily Sabah (h/t Mackolik), the Bosnian does not want to return to Barcelona at the end of the season. He wants to stay another year at the Turkish club, where he regained his prominence as a player.

In the Süper Lig, Pjanic has started 12 times for his club, providing two assists during the same duration. Moreover, he provides 2.5 key passes and averages 80 touches per ninety minutes.

An impressive loan spell would be a positive sign for Barcelona; it is anything but, however. For, the midfield still cannot accommodate Pjanic even if he returns. The growth of Gavi, Nico, and Pedri coupled with the presence of Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets provides the department with the depth it requires.

Currently, Pjanic’s loan deal at Besiktas lasts until 30th June 2022. Though a loan fee was not involved, the Turkish club is paying a third of his salary. His contract with Barcelona is until 2024, and a permanent move away from Camp Nou would be the best move for all parties involved.