Report: Sassuolo tailing Barcelona’s pre-season hero | OneFootball

The pre-season is usually a period for the up-and-coming players to impress the management and earn a slot in the upcoming season’s plans. The situation at Barcelona this year however is different.

With player departures being of paramount importance, Barcelona will listen to offers for practically any player at the moment. The same situation has come around for the B team’s Rey Manaj.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Sassuolo is now in pole position to sign the Albanian striker who has had a phenomenal pre-season.

Since the commencement of the pre-season, the 24-year-old’s stocks have rocketed sky-high. In just two games, the young forward has shown it all.

Manaj netted a superb hat-trick in Barcelona’s opening encounter against Nastic. And just as it seemed like the youngster’s news was fading out, he netted another superb finish against Girona.

In any other season, such a blistering start could have assured the player of chances in the first team. However, with number 9’s selling like hot pancakes in the transfer window, Barcelona see the youngster as a big asset to cash in on.

The Albanian is no stranger to Italian soil, having come through the Sampdoria academy. He has also played for Cremonese and Inter Milan, amongst others and a move to Italy could serve him well.

Sassuolo have had a long-standing interest in the player. Needless to say, the past week has solidified their stance further. Though the youngster seems set to depart the Catalan capital, he will continue to train with the first team until his future is cleared.