Over and over again, we’ve been treated to the tired comparison that Ilaix Moriba is the next Paul Pogba. With reports linking Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool to Barcelona, maybe we should start thinking about that comparison instead. In truth, the 18-year-old Spanish midfielder shouldn’t be compared to any player yet, but Ronald Koeman has at least given Culers a taste of what the youngster could be for the first team.
Against Real Sociedad, Ilaix Moriba came off the bench and completed the most dribbles (5) and won the most duels (8) of any player that featured in the match. He’s a box-to-box midfielder that can score the occasional goal, deliver the occasional no-look pass (as he did to Messi in the build-up for Barcelona’s 6th), and win the battles in the air. He is raw and inexperienced, but he is flashing the potential of being a complete midfielder in the modern game.
Those same qualities are what make 30-year-old Wijnaldum one of the top midfielders in the world for Liverpool. The combination of him having worked with Koeman with the Netherlands and the ability to sign him on a free transfer make Wijnaldum a perfect candidate for a spot with the Blaugrana.
However, it’s not just Ilaix that Wijnaldum would be taking minutes from. Even if Miralem Pjanic and Matheus Fernandes aren’t in next season’s plans, all of Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Riqui Puig, Ilaix, and Carles Aleñá will be fighting for spots. That’s not including the future of Philippe Coutinho and the emergence of Álex Collado, Jandro Orellana, or Nico González. Throw Sergi Roberto in the mix if Emerson arrives from Real Betis and that midfield is looking pretty crowded before you add a Dutch national team starter into the equation.
The other wrinkle is the position of de Jong, which should be interpreted as the question of Koeman’s preferred formation with a proper offseason. His recent success as a libero in the small sample size of four matches has been a revelation, and it’s a wonder if Wijnaldum’s arrival wouldn’t complicate that established order with Pedri and Busquets operating as the two more central midfielders.
This was discussed in further detail on the latest edition of the podcast:
Adding Wijnaldum at this moment is low risk/high reward. It’s a top player at that position with experience that only Sergio Busquets has in the middle of the park. Yet, the lost minutes of youngsters, including Pedri, may not be worth the reward.
Even though he’d be coming on a free transfer, may those wages would be better utilized elsewhere. It’s not just Wijnaldum that has been rumored to be connected to Barcelona recently. Of course Erling Haaland is the big name, but the likes of Memphis Depay and Eric García are much more likely.
Dan Hilton is an American journalist, broadcaster, and current Editor-in-Chief of BarcaBlog. Extensive work as a play-by-play broadcaster, producer behind the scenes, and quite average player in his younger years has given him a well-rounded and informative perspective on the sport. Alongside BarcaBlog founder Francesc, Dan started The Barcelona Podcast in 2017
