In the midst of a summer transfer window and Barcelona are looking for cover in central defence. What’s new?!
It’s the one position where the players they’ve bought in or promoted from La Masia have been hit and miss.
Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Alberto Botia, Marc Bartra, Martin Caceres, Andreu Fontas, Jeremy Mathieu and Marc Muniesa are just a small recent handful of those who weren’t good enough to forge a successful long-term career at the Camp Nou.
Gabi Milito, Rafa Marquez, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti and, latterly, Thomas Vermaelen can be prouder of their work.
The song and dance, literally, that accompanied Yerry Mina’s arrival suggested that he would be another answer to Barça’s prayers, initially as back-up for Messrs. Umtiti and Pique.
So convinced were the club, that they even paid a premium for their new acquisition to arrive six months early, in January 2018.
One has to question why, because he then barely featured under Ernesto Valverde and was arguably at fault for a number of the goals conceded against Levante in the game which saw Barca’s unbeaten record toppled.
Clement Lenglet of Sevilla is the latest to be courted by the Catalans, and with them apparently prepared to pay his 35 million euros buyout clause, that surely spells curtains for Mina’s short Barca career.
There are those that have suggested that the Blaugrana’s purpose would be better served by sending the gangly Colombian out on loan, to give him experience in European football, and then bring him back at a later date.
However, the club have already seen enough in training and the few minutes Mina did get to play, to understand that he’s not the right fit.
Lenglet certainly is, and at 23 is the same age as Mina.
He would represent a much more authoritative and calmer presence when required, and would allow Ernesto Valverde the option of rotating Pique and Umtiti, something he was unable to do to any great degree last season.
He already has experience in La Liga, something Mina did not, and so will need no time to adapt in that sense; although he may require some adjustment to get used to Barca’s way of playing.
A five-year deal for Lenglet suggests that Barcelona see him at the club long-term, and in today’s market he would represent a bargain if he’s up to the standard they expect.
He was identified as the player Barca wanted very quickly, the technical team of Pep Segura, Ramon Planes and Eric Abidal wasting no time in negotiating for his services.
Once the deal is finally confirmed, it’s unlikely we’ll see Yerry Mina in a Barcelona shirt again, and if truth be told, he won’t be missed.
