Until recently, it had seemed as though Pjanic’s future was away from the Camp Nou, but that may no longer be the case.
Xavi is full of praise for Pjanic after the game against Juventus
Barcelona could see a player enter the first-team fold that they wouldn’t have expected to this summer, and Miralem Pjanic could act as something of a surprise signing for the Catalans. Until recently, it had seemed as though Pjanic’s future was away from the Camp Nou, but that may no longer be the case. The club see pre-season as a trial for the former Juventus midfielder, and that’s why he has been taken on their pre-season tour of the United States. Xavi Hernandez’s mid-season arrival meant that he hadn’t had the chance to work with Pjanic before the summer, and so he wants to have the chance to take a look at the player himself.
So far, things have gone well for the midfielder, and Xavi was full of praise for Pjanic after the game against Juventus. “He has a unique vision of the game,” Xavi said. “His technical ability is extraordinary.”
Miralem is unlikely to be a regular in the starting XI
While the sporting side of things is undoubtedly important, other factors will have to come into consideration as well. Pjanic has always been an important player wherever he has played – Barcelona aside – and Xavi will have to find out if he would be content with playing a more secondary role at the Camp Nou. He is unlikely to be a regular in the starting XI. As ever with Barcelona, the financial aspect also comes into play. The club will need to evaluate what his inclusion in the team would mean for their salary limits and whether or not they would be better off letting him leave to lighten their expenses. The player’s stance is that he wants to stay at the Camp Nou, as he is determined to at least have the chance to show Xavi what he can offer.
For now, he’s getting his way, and he will be hoping to use this pre-season to convince the coach that he has a part to play with the Blaugrana. Nothing has been decided yet; all that’s certain is that Pjanic has offers on the table, but Xavi has been pleasantly surprised by what he’s seen so far this summer.