Rabat- FC Barcelona is actively seeking a central defender for next season to replace Carles Puyol. Moroccan football player Mehdi Benatia, currently AS Roma’s central defender, is seen as having the right profile for the Catalan team.
After FC Barcelona’s official website reported that “Benatia is the best replacement for Puyol,” El Mundo Deportivo newspaper confirmed that the Catalan club aims to clinch a deal for Benatia’s services.
According to EL Mundo Deportivo, FC Barcelona, “will be ready to pay the sum of € 25 million” to secure the services of the Moroccan player.
FC Barcelona is not the only team interested in Benatia.The Italian magazine Sky Sport Italia has recently reported that the manager of Manchester City, Manuel Pellegrini, wants to recruit the 26-year-old Moroccan defender next season.
Benatiajoined AS Roma from Udinese in 2013. He is still under contract with his Italian team until July 2018. However, FC Barcelona may change Roma’s mind with a larger sum of money.
Edited by Elisabeth Myers
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