The Catalan giants are looking for Sergio Busquets' replacement. One of the options on the table is Zubimendi. The alternative to the Real Sociedad player is Ruben Neves.
If Barça finally go for Ruben Neves and not for Zubimendi, it will be easy, at least on the player's side. And, according to Sport, he is keen to become a Barça player.
The Catalan newspaper claims that the midfielder could have left Wolves last summer. Liverpool and United were willing to sign him. Both teams approached his agents to ask if he would be willing to join the Reds or Red Devils. In both cases the answer was the same: "no".
'Sport' claims that Ruben Neves has eyes for no one else but Barça. When he found out that Barça were interested in him, he refused to listen to other offers.
Despite knowing that Barcelona did not have the power to afford his transfer at the time, Ruben Neves took the risk of waiting a year. He believes that for 2023-24 he can fit into Xavi's plans.
Barça wanted Ruben Neves in the last window of the market, but reinforcing the midfield at that time was not a priority, which is why they left the operation pending for the summer of 2023. We'll have to see if, then, they go back for Ruben Neves and the wait for the Wolves player has been worth it.