Barcelona want midfield duo to continue at the club for next season

The 2022/23 season is just around the corner, with Barcelona working round the clock to trim their squad and register the new players.

As part of the operation, there are multiple fringe players who are expected to leave the club in the coming weeks, with the likes of Riqui Puig and Oscar Mingueza already heading to the exit door.

Nico Gonzalez and Miralem Pjanic are among the others facing an uncertain future at the club, especially with Frenkie de Jong determined to remain at Camp Nou.

The Dutchman’s prolonged at the club means Barcelona already have enough numbers in the middle of the park, which, in turn, could force the club to sanction the exit of one of either Nico or Pjanic.

However, a fresh report from Mundo Deportivo suggests Barcelona are open to retaining the services of both the midfielders ahead of the new season.

It has been argued that Barça are currently looking for a reliable alternative for Sergio Busquets. Although de Jong can operate in that position, Xavi prefers to play the Dutchman further upfront, in the interior role.

As such, the Barcelona coach prefers to keep Nico. The youngster has shown tremendous potential and is rated highly by Xavi due to his technical prowess and versatility in the middle of the park.

Pjanic, meanwhile, has shown excellent form during training and has the experience that could be useful for an otherwise inexperienced Barcelona midfielder.

Pjanic also feels more comfortable in Xavi’s tactical setup and is willing to lower his salary in order to become a part of the team next season.

Simply put, Barcelona have two players who offer their unique traits and could be useful for the season ahead. As such, the possibility of their prolonged stay at Camp Nou cannot be ruled out, even as the club continue to trim the squad ahead of the new season.