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Ivan Rakitic is set to call quits on his Barcelona career with a move out of the Camp Nou looking inevitable this summer. The 31-year-old midfielder has been an excellent servant for the Spanish heavyweights, making just under 300 appearances during a successful six-year spell. However, with age catching up and his best days behind him, Rakitic has been a consistent scapegoat for Barcelona’s woes in the past two seasons. With the likes of Manchester United and Atletico Madrid still desperate for the Croat, we might see Rakitic end his career elsewhere.
The 2014/15 Champions League winner and 2018 World Cup finalist broke his silence on the transfer speculation surrounding him early in February, saying,
“There have been things that I have not liked. The people who make decisions know it and we all know it. There were several things I didn't like.”
It is not a secret that his relationship with the Barcelona board turned sour back in 2018 when his request for an upgraded contract was rejected amidst heavy interest from Paris Saint-Germain. And, the signing of Frenkie de Jong last year did nothing but widen those cracks.
Therefore, in this section, we will analyse and discuss the five best midfielders Barcelona can consider as replacements for Ivan Rakitic.
5. Riqui Puig
The Barcelona hierarchy might not even have to resort to the transfer window even if their Croatian midfielder decides to depart this summer. Fans alike will want 20-year-old academy product Riqui Puig to be handed a definitive role in the senior set-up next season.
One of La Masia’s finest in recent years, the Spanish youngster is touted to do great things at the club by many. He is primarily a left-sided central midfielder: creative, confident and a pass master. Extremely alert of his surroundings, the midfielder has the ability to wriggle out of tight spots and is not easily dispossessed. He has everything in his locker: short passes, long passes, diagonals, through balls, twists and turns and most importantly, goals and assists. He is already a leader in the Barcelona B team and who is to say that he can’t replicate his heroics in the senior team in upcoming years.
Puig has shades of both Xavi and Andres Iniesta and whilst that is enough pressure on the youngster already, he has the mentality and character to match that. However, only time will tell if he’s ready for the task at hand.
4. Rodrigo Bentancur
Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been on Barcelona’s radar for a while now because of his impressive showings for the Italian giants over the past couple of years or so. The 22-year-old is a product of the famous Boca Juniors academy and was snapped up by the Serie A champions for a reported €9.4m in the summer of 2017.
The Uruguayan is a versatile midfielder who can slot in at defensive midfield, central midfield, as a deep-lying playmaker and even as a number ten if required. Tall, sharp and silky, Bentancur is a perfect modern-day box-to-box midfielder who has the adequate passing range whilst also the tenacity and strength required in the middle of the park. Excellent in transition, he can easily dictate play, exchange passes with the defence and also feed the attackers. His seven assists in the Serie A this season speak volumes about his chance creating and playmaking ability.
At Barcelona, Bentancur could play the Sergio Busquets role behind, say, Arthur and Frenkie de Jong or play the Arturo Vidal or Ivan Rakitic position where he gets the license to bomb forward at will. He can be extremely effective in a double-pivot too, like with Miralem Pjanic in Maurizio Sarri's side. His adaptability and positional intelligence at such a young age is next to none and could prove to be a huge asset for Quique Setien’s style of play.
With his outrageous potential and talents, Rodrigo Bentancur could not only become a superstar in Europe but also a leader for the Uruguayan national team in the future.
3. Stefano Sensi
24-year-old midfielder Stefano Sensi has been lauded as Inter Milan and Italy’s present and future because of his immense potential and gifted technique. An almost exact replica of compatriot Marco Verratti, Sensi is equipped with an impeccable passing range, balance and a low centre of gravity which makes him extremely effective. Comparisons with the Paris Saint-Germain star have been rife throughout Sensi’s career, also because of their similarly diminutive sizes.
Sensi was signed by Antonio Conte on loan with a €25 million option to purchase at the beginning of the current season after he greatly impressed at fellow Serie A outfit Sassuolo. The dynamic midfielder is not shy of playing any role in a central trident, be it in front of the back four, as a deep-lying distributor or as a more advanced creator. His brilliant distribution, ball control, unmatched mobility and press resistance make him one of the most important players in Conte’s team.
Sensi operates as the central pivot to the team, pumping out passes whilst also maintaining the defensive shape. He is excellent between the lines and apart from passing his way out, he can also take on an opponent himself. Italy boss Roberto Mancini was quick to recognise Sensi’s talents as he called him up for their Euro 2020 qualifying excursions earlier this season but multiple injury problems have plagued his season since.
Barcelona will have a real player on their hands if they are to lure Stefano Sensi out of the San Siro. With his prime footballing years still way ahead of him, the Italian could epitomise his playing style with the Spanish giants.
2. Fabian Ruiz
It won’t be an understatement to say that Fabian Ruiz is a significantly greater attacking threat than all three of the previously mentioned midfielders combined. The Napoli playmaker is currently hot property on the continent with the likes of European heavyweights Manchester City and Barcelona desperate for his signature.
Ruiz might be one of the most talented midfielders in world football right now. He has a dream of a left-foot and can create chances at will. He cannot be knocked off the ball easily, can effectively build-up play and has all the qualities of a prototype Barcelona player: creativity, vision and flair.
The rumours linking him to the Spanish champions have intensified in recent weeks because he was under current Barcelona manager Quique Setien’s tutelage at Real Betis. Interestingly, Barcelona were also interested in Ruiz back then but Setien halted any talks between the two clubs only for Betis to sell him to Napoli a year later. With Barcelona up against Napoli in the Champions League Round of 16, it will be a perfect opportunity for the Blaugrana hierarchy to scout the 23-year-old star-in-the-making.
Fabian Ruiz could be an upgrade to Ivan Rakitic and Barcelona fans will be licking their lips thinking about him linking up with the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi.
1. Saul Niguez
Atletico Madrid star Saul Niguez is perhaps the most ideal replacement for Rakitic in the Barcelona midfield. The Spaniard, despite being just 25, is a highly experienced and mature player who is not only Diego Simeone’s most valuable player but has also performed on Europe’s biggest stages.
Saul is a textbook Barcelona player, especially because of his clever play, tactical awareness and brilliant technique. Often labelled as a “complete” midfielder, he can pretty much slot in at every position in the centre of the pitch, acting as a destroyer or creator. For Simeone’s side, Saul players a more pragmatic game with his high level of pressing and work rate, however, spectators can still witness him weaving his magic with the ball. In the Spanish national team, however, he transforms into a pass maestro who dictates play and acts as a focal point for his teammates.
But Saul’s most incredible ability is to work in spaces. Despite not being the quickest, he can not only get out of tight spots but also pick up positions behind the opposition midfield and turn them into goalscoring chances.
Barcelona will surely be looking at bringing Saul to the Camp Nou, who is almost tailor-made for their possession-based style of play. However, luring him from direct title rivals Atletico Madrid will not be the easiest of tasks. But if Bartomeu and co are ready to splash the cash on Atletico Madrid's deputy captain, he will not only be a long-term successor to Ivan Rakitic but could also cement himself one of the best midfielders in the world.
