Barcelona staff see Messi as more of a ‘fourth midfielder’ than a forward – report

Barcelona have taken several steps in their pursuit of Lionel Messi in the past few weeks. The club are determined to bring their prodigal son back to Catalonia and are soon expected to hold talks over La Liga, seeking a green light for the move.

In light of speculations over his future, a recent report from Mundo Deportivo has suggested how Lionel Messi could fit into Barcelona.

The report states that the club’s technical staff view the Argentine as more of a fourth midfielder rather than a forward. It is hardly surprising as Messi’s role in the field has indeed changed over the years.

From being one of the most lethal goalscorers football has ever seen, the 35-year-old has become more of a creative asset. It has been evident during his time at PSG, with the attacker notably racking up 29 assists during his time at Parc des Princes.

Therefore, Barcelona view Messi as a fourth midfielder – someone who can possibly feature alongside Pedri in the interior midfield position.

He can be an ideal catalyst in the creative department, receiving the ball and finding pockets of space for himself and his teammates in the final third.

The report also suggests that Barcelona are looking for a new forward primarily because of the technical team viewing Messi as more of a creative firepower.

This is a reason the Catalans have been linked with a move for Vitor Roque, though the club have appeared apprehensive in paying the Brazilian’s hefty €50 million price tag. This may lead to Barça looking out for alternatives, with Chelsea star Pierre-Emerick Aubameynag emerging as one of the options.