Italian side take interest in Barcelona defender

Italian side take interest in Barcelona defender

Barcelona will be fielding offers for a number of player this summer that are not starters, and that includes much of their affiliate side, Barca Atletic. With Barcelona’s second team relegated to the fourth tier this season, a number of their players will be looking for other opportunities this summer as a result.

Some will have the opportunity to be in and around the first team, and as a result are likely to remain. Nevertheless, those without a clear path to senior football at Barcelona may look for a move. Similar happened to Alex Valle last summer, and one of Hansi Flick’s debutants could be on the move to Serie A.

Empoli interested in Sergi Dominguez

As per Gianluca di Marzio, Empoli are interested in 20-year-old central defender Sergi Dominguez. The Tuscan side missed out on survival narrowly this season, and are now planning their return to Serie A. They are keen to bring in Dominguez on loan next season – so far it is not yet clear what Barcelona’s plans are for him.

Barcelona centre-back competition

With injuries mounting up, Dominguez was called upon by Hansi Flick, making his debut on the 31st of August last season, coming on for the final half hour in a 7-0 demolition of Real Valladolid. He would make his first start against Villarreal three weeks later in a 5-1 win, and go on to make six appearances in total for the senior side, while he has played 19 times for Barca Atletic.

Gerard Martín will undergo hand surgery today. He'll be available for the start of pre-season. @gbsans

Dominguez has his work cut out to get back into the first team though, with Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen ahead of him in the pecking order. There is also some suggestion that Barca Atletic teammates Alexis Olmedo and Andres Cuenca could spend preseason with the senior team this summer.