Interest is exploding despite his failure at Tottenham Hotspur. Giovanni Rosselso has emerged as Barcelona’s No. 1 winter transfer target.
“Rosselló continues to be a favorite of Barcelona,” Spain’s Mundo Deportivo reported on Tuesday (Aug. 20), “and he fits the profile to replace Pablo Gabi, who is out for the season with a ruptured cruciate ligament.”
The Argentine midfielder began his European career with Paris Saint-Germain before joining Tottenham Hotspur via Real Betis. His creative left-footed passing, dribbling, and playmaking abilities attracted a lot of attention, and Tottenham paid £53 million for him, hoping to capitalize on his creativity.레모나토토
But Rosselso hasn’t lived up to expectations. He struggled to adapt to the physically intense style of the Premier League, unlike the French and Spanish leagues, and began to lose his place in the starting lineup. Unable to establish himself as a first-team regular under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, he eventually left on loan to Villarreal in January 2022.
At Villarreal, he soared. He quickly established himself as a key playmaker after only playing the second half of the league season, and he was a revelation in the UEFA Champions League, helping Villarreal reach the last four, beating the likes of Juventus and Bayern Munich.
Based on his performances that season, he stayed with Villarreal through the 2022/23 season before returning to Tottenham ahead of this season. However, there was still no place for him and he was linked with a number of clubs. He opted to stay and fight for a starting spot, but has only made four official appearances so far. All three of his league appearances have been as a substitute, with the exception of a League Cup tie against Fulham, and in September he missed the entire month with a hamstring injury.
Despite his failure to make an impact at Tottenham despite his hefty transfer fee, interest from world-class Barcelona has not diminished. The Catalan giants, who reportedly wanted to sign him last summer, are planning to do so again in the winter transfer window.
Mundo Deportivo said: “We believed that Rosselso would be an important part of Tottenham’s project, but he hardly played a game. If he can go out on loan next January, he can leave for familiar La Liga,” said Mundo Deportivo. “He will have the playing time at Barcelona that he didn’t have at Tottenham, and he will be able to reassess his value at Barcelona.”
“He is also familiar with La Liga, having played for Villarreal and Betis. He is also a player that Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has been observing and he knows how to play well between the lines. He has a great final pass and finish,” said Hernandez, explaining that Rosselso has the right skills to play for Barcelona.
Barcelona’s urgency to sign Rosselso comes after key midfielder Pablo Gabi was ruled out for the season.
Gabi injured his knee in a European Championship qualifier against Georgia on Tuesday and was substituted after 26 minutes. “Tests showed a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in Gabi’s right knee and damage to the meniscus,” Barcelona said on the club’s official website, adding that he will undergo surgery in the coming days.
Local media, including Spain’s As, have put Gabi’s return at next summer or later. With the worst-case scenario being that his rehabilitation could take up to eight to nine months, there is an urgent need to find a replacement.
According to Mundo Deportivo, “Barcelona want to prepare for Gabi’s departure in the winter transfer window. “Strengthening the midfield is a top priority, apart from Vitor Hokey, who will arrive next summer in June without any problems,” said Mundo Deportivo. “Rosselló is a player who fits our profile perfectly. Both Xavi and the coaching staff like him. We see him as a fantastic alternative in case of a sudden injury to Gabi.”