Napoli star Stanislav Lobotka refuses to rule out Barcelona switch | OneFootball

Napoli star Stanislav Lobotka has refused to close the door on a potential summer departure from Serie A, to link up with Barcelona.

The name of midfielder Lobotka has of course taken its place front and centre in the headlines in Italy and Spain alike over recent weeks.

As much comes after the 29-year-old’s agent, in the aftermath of Napoli’s Champions League tie with the aforementioned Barcelona, revealed that he had held discussions with the Blaugrana over the possibility of a deal for his client.

Speaking to the Slovak media, as cited by TuttoNapoli, Branislav Jarusek confirmed:

“Lobotka would like to play for a club that fights to win the Champions League. He is nearly 30 so if he gets an irrefutable offer, we’ll discuss it with the club.”

“We spoke about it with Deco. Barcelona would sign him, but many things must happen. Stanislav sent me a screenshot of what Xavi said about him. I sent him one showing the many times we spoke about him, because he [Xavi] often asks me about Lobotka.”

During his own exchange with the press in his home country this week, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of a summer move to Catalunya’s capital was put to Lobotka himself.

And though, in quotes gathered by CalcioNapoli24, the midfield maestro was keen to reiterate his focus on the job at hand at Napoli, Lobotka also went on to hint that he is open to taking his talents back to La Liga:

“I am thinking about Napoli, as we have a very important game to play on Saturday. Of course, it is very pleasing to have my childhood idol, Xavi, praising the way I play.

“That gives me the energy to keep going and continue working to improve myself. We’ll see what happens in the summer.”

Conor Laird | GIFN