EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

Real Madrid legend’s son seems an ideal heir to Busquets at Barcelona

Julian Araujo

Barcelona has indentified Federico,the son of Real Madrid legend Fernando Redondo, to fill Busquets’ boots. He resembles Busquets in style more than his father, who won two Champions Leagues with Madrid.

Read More:- Barcelona are ready to formalise their interest in Joshua Kimmich.

Busquets becomes one of the most decorated players at Barca

As if to emphasise the point, Busquets recently appeared for a picture with every trophy he has won with his boyhood club. There were a total of 31 pieces of silverware. Only Lionel Messi is more decorated, and only Messi and Xavi have made more club appearances. There were several circumstances at play, but the midfielder’s promotion from Pep Guardiola’s B Team in the summer of 2008 coincided with the club’s most successful time in its history. Busquets, Barcelona’s era-defining pivot, won the treble in his debut year and the league title in eight of his first 11 seasons. Xavi was emphatic on the significance of replacing the 34-year-old, saying that finding the ideal fit as Busquets’ replacement at the core of Barcelona’s midfield is crucial.

“We have to find this piece, if we want to compete well next year, we have to find it,” Xavi told reporters ahead of Busquets’ final home game.

“For me it’s fundamental as a coach. Busquets has been fundamental for us, and very important in winning the Spanish Super Cup and La Liga this year. A player who has been so important for us, on and off the pitch, is leaving, so we have to find a very important player to replace Busquets.”

“For me, it’s the key to competing next year.”

Barcelona is unlikely to sign Martin Zubimendi

Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is said to be Xavi’s first choice. The 24-year-old has made over 100 La Liga appearances. He was recently spectacular for La Real as they defeated the newly-crowned La Liga winners 2-1 at the Camp Nou. His ability to draw the strings indicates a player with enormous potential to set the tempo for elite possession sides for many years to come. The issue is that Zubimendi is under contract at Anoeta until 2027. In addition Real Sociedad isn’t known for letting highly valued players go cheap. Barcelona’s financial problems persist, and Zubimendi does not appear eager to quit his boyhood club.

Fabricio Diaz, a 20-year-old Uruguayan at Liverpool Montevideo, is a youngster with whom the club has been in contact. Bielsistas and keen-eyed Barcelona fans may have caught a glimpse of the highly-rated budding talent while watching La Celeste’s next generation of youngsters at the Under-20 World Cup.
Diaz, though, isn’t the only possible candidate to attract the spotlight in Argentina’s young competition. Now here arrives Federico Redondo.

Federico Redondo is an ideal replacement of Busquets

Federico is the son of Real Madrid legend Fernando Redondo. He resembles Busquets in style more than his father, who won two Champions Leagues with Madrid.

“We are very different players, even though we play in the same position. Different times. He is a very complete player, who dribbles the ball forward a lot, and maybe, in today’s football, it’s not something I do often,” said Federico of the stylistic differences with his father.

Redondo Junior was born in Madrid in 2003, while his father was still playing for Los Blancos. Federico Redondo Solari is his full name. The 20-year-old midfielder was raised in Buenos Aires and learned how to play at the Argentinos Juniors academy. He’s now broken into the first team and is now playing under Gabriel Milito, albeit he’s still very inexperienced, with only 17 senior starts for the club.

Barcelona legends Milito and Mascherano is grooming the youngster

It would be a stretch to say that Redondo has what it takes to replace a player who added a whole new dimension to the role of a Pivot. A better situation for Barcelona would be to bring in a youngster as a squad option. Barcelona must play him as a backup and transform him to a more seasoned, established alternative. But, when Redondo makes his debut for Javier Mascherano’s Under-20s as they host the World Cup, it’s tough not to be swayed by the potential he’s showed. Particularly that sense of unhurriedness that’s so strangely reminiscent of Busquets’ most charming traits.

It is an invaluable footballing education to be coached by two former Barcelona defenders, Milito and Mascherano. They both regard Redondo as a focal point in moving the ball and stopping the opposition in transition. Moreover they both recognise the qualities required for such a pivotal position. Thus It will be interesting to see where Redondo’s career takes him. But we can’t wait to find out.

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