The day Pol Lirola impressed Ernesto Valverde
The Juventus player has played at Sassuolo on loan all season
He is one of the options for the right-back slot, along with Bellerin, Azpilicueta and Semedo
Pol Lirola, the Juventus defender on loan at Sassuolo, is one of the options Barcelona have to reinforce their right-back slot. Barcelona’s new coach Ernesto Valverde knows the young Catalan player, who impressed him on September 15, 2016, with an excellent performance as the Italians won 3-0 against Athletic Club in the Europa League.
Lirola scored the first of the goals and played excellently well, even making it into the team of the week.
Valverde is working with Robert Fernandez and Albert Soler on squad planning. The main priority for that position is Hector Bellerin.
Cesar Azpilicueta and Nelson Semedo are also options, along with Lirola who played 29 games this season. As well as the goal he added four assists.
Di Francesco has been using him as a right-back although sometimes he can play as a right central midfielder.
Lirola, at 19, has been called up to the Spanish U21 squad to play in the Euros. Juventus paid 650,000 euros to Espanyol for him and he has a contract until 2021.
The Italians would sell him but only for around 10 million euros. Then again they may want him as a potential future replacement for Dani Alves. At the moment Juve’s formula for him seems to be a loan. A formula which doesn’t interest Barca.
