The agent of Barcelona defender Xavier Mbuyamba has revealed that Chelsea are one of a number of clubs who have registered an interest in signing the 18-year-old.
The defender has been described as a “young van Dijk” in some sections of the media, and the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Juventus, Ajax and AZ are all said to be keen on snapping up the teenager.
However, Carlos Barros thinks that Chelsea could have the edge due to manager Frank Lampard’s trust in playing young players:
Chelsea have the best papers. Of course, we discussed this extensively last year. Chelsea gave a fantastic presentation. There is a unique football atmosphere there.”
“You immediately sit with the first-team players during lunch and the club has outlined a very ambitious plan for Xavier.”
“They really think that in one to two years, he can be in the first team. Frank Lampard has of course already proven that he is not afraid to play with young players. Being in the starting line-up at Chelsea at the age of twenty would, of course, be great.”
Mbuyamba is currently in Barcelona’s B team after moving for MVV Maastricht in August last year. The lack of game time has, though, led to speculation that he could depart the Camp Nou. The centre-back has made three appearances for the Under 19s in the UEFA Youth League but he has not featured for Barca B in Second Division B, Spain’s third tier.
There are suggestions that a change in leadership at the Catalan club after presidential elections could affect Mbuyamba’s future but we shall have to wait and see what happens.