For some time now Georginio Wijnaldum has been heavily linked with a summer move to Barcelona, but his performance against Real Madrid on Tuesday may make the Catalan club think twice.
The 30-year-old is out of contract this summer at Liverpool and looks certain to move on.
There have even been reports that the Dutchman already has an agreement in place with Joan Laporta to sign for Barcelona when he becomes a free agent in July.
Wijnaldum‘s part in a disappointing Liverpool performance in Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg, however, might leave some thinking he failed his audition.
After all, there’s hardly a better way to make a good impression on Barcelona than by playing well against their arch rivals, but Wijnaldum was part of a midfield that struggled to exert any control on the game, at least until Thiago was brought on, and which Madrid played through with ease.
Real Madrid’s chances against Liverpool seemed to all come so easily, with little pressure applied.
Wijnaldum himself seemed to stand by and watch as Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior enjoyed plenty of time and space in Liverpool’s box at the third goal.
It was a bad night at the office for the Reds and the Netherlands international cannot shoulder all the blame, but it does raise questions about his suitability for a role in Barcelona’s midfield.
Wijnaldum‘s overall individual performance on Tuesday wasn’t all that bad, but any Barcelona scouts watching will have wanted to see him compete a little better with Madrid’s midfield.
Ronald Koeman is a fan of his compatriot and the board at the Camp Nou will be fans of the lack of a transfer fee, but is a player who will be 31-years-old come the summer worth the investment?
Wijnaldum is a quality player, one disappointing night cannot change that, but it’s not clear that he would improve the Blaugrana team or that he would be guaranteed game time ahead of Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong or Pedri.
There is a danger, therefore, that the Dutchman would become the new Miralem Pjanic, a frustrated onlooker from the bench.
On the other hand, Busquets will be 33 years old next season and his minutes may have to be managed more carefully.
Wijnaldum is not exactly the same profile of player as Busquets, but he could provide Koeman with a more reliable rotation option than Pjanic.
The Liverpool midfielder would likely command a hefty wage packet, especially arriving on a free transfer, and Barcelona will have to weigh up whether it is worth paying that for a player the wrong side of thirty and who won’t necessarily be a key piece in the side.
The answer to that question may depend in part upon what deals, if any, are struck with Sergio Aguero or Memphis Depay, the other players Barcelona are being linked with free transfers for.
With Barcelona unlikely to be able to sanction transfer fees in the summer, Wijnaldum may seem too good an opportunity to miss, but there are some nagging doubts about the good sense in bringing him in and his display against Real Madrid adds to those.
