Bad news for Xavi, Napoli could steal Messi's favorite player from Barcelona

Barcelona are trying to get back to being the great team that amazed the world for years. The successes they achieved with Pep Guardiola as manager and Lionel Messi as star are long in the past and they need to win titles again in Europe's most important tournaments. Winning La Liga 2022/23 was a first step, but they know they still have a lot of room for improvement.

That is why coach Xavi Hernandez is working to make his team even stronger and able to compete with Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich. During this transfer window they have added 5 players: defenders Inigo Martinez and Mikayil Faye, midfielders Oriol Romeu and Ilkay Gundogan and striker Vitor Roque, who will continue at Athletico Paranense in Brazil until 2024.

But this is not enough. The manager believes there is still a need for an attacking midfielder to help connect the team's talented midfielders with the strikers. That is why he targeted Manchester City star Bernardo Silva. However, the negotiation is not easy because of the amount of money the Citizens want in exchange for his sale.

That is why Xavi has a plan B: Giovani Lo Celso. The midfielder was recommended years ago by Lionel Messi, his Argentina teammate, and is a more likely option than Silva. Tottenham is his parent club and has no intention of using him next season, so Barcelona may be able to sign him.

They are not the only ones who want him

While he is doing pre-season work in England, Lo Celso is wanted by several teams in Europe. In Real Betis and Villarreal he had great performances and could be his destination again, but Napoli also appeared, who according to Mundo Deportivo are willing to pay $15 million to sign him this summer.