Íñigo Martínez's departure to Saudi Arabia has opened up a scenario that, until now, had been handled calmly at Barça. Due to the team's possession and passing play style, the ideal situation for the culer squad is to have two center-backs with good ball distribution... and for each to be dominant with a specific foot. For the right side, the present and future bet is Pau Cubarsí, but a partner is needed for him and this player could arrive from Brazil.
Signing from Brazil, €10M offer
"SPORT" has revealed that FC Barcelona have already made the first moves for Luiz Benedetti, Palmeiras's center-back. He is only 19 years old and is a defender profile that is highly appreciated at Camp Nou, with the belief that he could fit in well.
He is being tracked by several European giants, such as Arsenal, Napoli, Manchester City, and Chelsea. In fact, during his visit to Brazil, Deco was able to learn firsthand that there is an offer of €10 million for him.
There are excellent relations between Barça and Palmeiras, which could make his signing easier. Luiz Benedetti is under contract in Brazil until 2029, although he isn't expected to fulfill it. No reckless moves will be made for him, although Joan Laporta has already given the order to match the €10 million offer the Brazilians have for their admired defender.
Luiz Benedetti, a gem for the defense
Luiz Benedetti possesses physical and technical qualities that strongly attract attention at Camp Nou. Standing 6 ft 5.5 in (1.97 meters) tall, he is a footballer who dominates aerial play, both in defense and on set pieces in attack. Moreover, despite his size, he is surprisingly quick in challenges and well positioned, qualities that make him a very difficult defender to beat in one-on-one duels.
Another aspect that is especially appreciated by the culer sporting management is that he is a left-footed defender, something highly valued due to the lack of available profiles of this type. At Barça, they believe that his partnership with Cubarsí could be ideal for the future, forming a complementary pair with enormous potential.
However, the club also acknowledges that Benedetti still has areas to improve, especially regarding his ball distribution. At Spotify Camp Nou, they believe this aspect could be perfected with the club's characteristic play style.
Barça are closely monitoring him and Luiz Benedetti already appears on the agenda as a possible strategic signing.