Barcelona closely monitoring the progress of Serie A rising star – report

Barcelona closely monitoring the progress of Serie A rising star – report It is no secret that Barcelona are in the market for a new centre-back ahead of the January transfer window. The injuries to Eric Garcia, Jules Kounde, and Andreas Christensen have highlighted the club’s lack of depth at centre-back. The club, therefore, are now keen on finding a new centre-back, having most recently been linked with a move for Bayern Munich star Jonathan Tah. Barcelona keeping an eye on Juan Rodriguez According to Diario SPORT , Barcelona are closely monitoring the progress of Serie A’s rising star, Juan Rodriguez. Juan Rodriguez has emerged as a rising star in Serie A. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images) A centre-back by trade, Rodriguez has impressed onlookers with his ball-playing ability and versatility, as he can also operate as a left-back. With 13 appearances this season in all competitions, the 21-year-old is already a first-team regular at Cagliari and fits the profile Barcelona are looking for: young, left-footed, and versatile. The report suggests Rodriguez is seen as the future of the Uruguayan national team, a country that has produced multiple defensive leaders in the past, including La Liga and Atletico Madrid legend Diego Godin. Can Barça sign Rodriguez? Juan Rodriguez has impressed onlookers with his versatility. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) Acquiring the services of Juan Rodriguez from Cagliari, though, won’t be as straightforward. The defender has a long-term contract at the Italian club, running until 2030, meaning they would have to negotiate directly with Cagliari. But having only signed the player last year, it is unlikely that the Italian club will want to part ways with the defender so soon, and even if they do, they are likely to ask for a fortune. Signing Rodriguez will be even more tricky in the upcoming January transfer window, as Cagliari have yet to show any desire to cash in on the Uruguayan so far. Then, there is the question of value. Cagliari signed Rodriguez for just €5 million, while the defender’s current value, as per Transfermarkt, stands at €14 million. The club are likely to ask for a significantly higher amount, given his age profile and potential.