Barcelona’s reported interest in Tottenham Hotspur’s left-back, Sergio Reguilon, has raised eyebrows across the football community, yet it could prove to be a shrewd move for the Catalan club.
Reguilon, who appears to have fallen out of favour at Spurs, last featured for the North London side in 2022.
Over the past two years, he has been on loan at Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, and Brentford, with his future at Tottenham remaining uncertain.
The 27-year-old has now emerged as a surprise target for Barcelona, with reports indicating that the Catalans have made inquiries to Tottenham regarding his availability.
According to AS, Reguilon is viewed as a potential option, provided the financial terms are favorable, given Barcelona’s ongoing budget constraints.
Spurs, for their part, are reluctant to approve another loan deal for the player, who cost them £27.5 million and is nearing the end of his contract next summer.
For Barcelona, Reguilon’s extensive experience in top-flight football, including a significant contribution to Sevilla’s Europa League victory in the 2019/20 season, makes him a more appealing choice than the club’s homegrown alternatives, such as Gerard Marin and Alex Valle, who have shown promise during pre-season.
The primary motivation for Barcelona’s pursuit of another left-back lies in their lack of depth in that position.
Alejandro Balde, currently the only recognized left-back in the first-team squad, spent the latter half of last season sidelined with a serious hamstring injury.
While Joao Cancelo, predominantly a right-back, covered for Balde during his absence, the versatile Portuguese defender has since returned to Manchester City following the conclusion of his loan. *AS* notes that negotiations to re-sign Cancelo are “very stalled.”
Beyond the tactical and practical considerations, Reguilon’s potential move to Barcelona would be particularly surprising given his deep ties to Real Madrid.
Reguilon spent 15 years with Los Blancos, joining their academy in 2005 and remaining at the club until his permanent departure in 2020.
This possible transfer, while unexpected, could provide Barcelona with much-needed reinforcement at left-back, as they look to bolster their squad ahead of the new season.
