Konrad De La Fuente impressed with Barcelona’s first team over the past week and is reportedly on the radar of fellow Spanish club Girona.
Girona, who lost 3-1 to the La Liga giants in a friendly on Wednesday, is interested in adding De La Fuente on loan for the season, Mundo Deportivo reported Friday. De La Fuente played the final 22 minutes of Wednesday’s friendly not only impressing Ronald Koeman, but also Girona manager Francisco Rodriguez.
The 19-year-old has quickly risen through the ranks at Barcelona, dressing in the UEFA Champions League earlier this summer and making his senior debut in a 3-1 friendly win over Gimastic on Sept. 12th. De La Fuente isn’t guaranteed a first team spot yet with the Catalan side this season, but Koeman still has a decision to make regarding the winger’s future.
“We know we have really good young players here,” Koeman said after Wednesday’s friendly. “The important thing is being involved in training at a good level and then taking that into these friendly games.”
“If I had to highlight one of the youngsters, I would say Konrad, I am really happy with him. But we also have Pedri, Riqui. We have great a future ahead of us.”
De La Fuente signed a new two-year contract with Barca earlier this year, but a loan move away could see him earn consistent first team minutes in the Segunda Liga rather than play for Barca B against lower competition.
He scored three goals and added one assist in six combined appearances for Barcelona B, while also featuring in the UEFA Youth League in 2019. Barcelona begins its quest for the La Liga title on Sept. 27th against Villarreal, after falling short behind rivals Real Madrid last season.
Girona suffered relegation to the Segunda Liga back in August after losing 1-0 to Elche in a two-legged playoff. The club kicks off its domestic campaign also on the Sept. 27th against Sporting Gijon.
In my humble opinion, I think this Crazy transfer window had gotten everyone over their skis a bit about Konrad (and a few others!). It would be nice to see him actually do something as a senior professional before we automatically hand him a starting spot.
You’re not wrong about that….0first team appearances as a pro, only a handful at u-23 level and were slotting him into the national team.He’s got plenty of upside as a prospect but that’s all he is right at this moment.
Let this happen, please!!!If we can get him playing consistently this year on loan that would be huge and would further deepen that winger/fwd part of the Nats pool
I think he can probably do better than Spanish 2nd Division. Berhalter called in Llanez while he was playing U19s so I don’t think he needs to jump at the first offer. That RB for Girona might quit if he’s got to get burned by Konrad everyday in training.
The Llanez call-up was during the January camp when European clubs don’t have to release a player. He was only released because he was a youth player. Additionally it was a camp with an eye towards what was to be the U-23 Olympic Qualifying Tournament. If the desire is to get Konrad to the Sr. USMNT sooner rather than later he needs to be playing with someone’s 1st Team.
A youth team player, even for a giant like Barca, is not going to get many looks when others options are playing 1st team minutes at good clubs/leagues.
To get into the USMNTs 23 he’ll have to beat out some significant competition. I’m guessing that if Gregg sticks with his 4-3-3 he’ll only bring 4 wide attackers, so Konrad is going to have to beat out at least 3 of the following:
Pulisic, Reyan, Boyd, Weah, Llanez, & Morris.
Thats a tall order if he’s still playing for Barca’s youth/reserve side.
Lost: I think your living in the past 3G isn’t as reliant on your club as managers in the past. Look at his comments about a Johnny way back in February when he’d barely played any first team matches for Internacional. Berhalter was talking up the 18 yr old at the end of Feb. but he wasn’t in U23 Qualifying roster implying he was going to the Euro camp in March. Gregg has also brought in Kayo a couple teams (granted he hasn’t suited). I’m not saying a loan wouldn’t be good for Konrad just saying if it’s the Segunda Division or playing Barca B until January I think he can wait.
I think 3G will play the 4-3-3 like this 4-2-1-3. Reyna will be 10.
The wides will be Pulisic and probably Morris. As a 17-year-old in the U20 WC he was regarded better than Llanes. I still think that holds true.
So his competition for the backup wides is Boyd and Wheah. Weah can play either side plus the 9. Boyd is strictly a right-sided player. Kanrad can play both sides and is faster and more dynamic than Boyd. His Changes are good to make the senior team if he keeps his current trajectory.
Boyd is a great place holder, but that’s it. If Konrad stays healthy and continues his improvement he won’t be needed. Sorry to all the Jsmooth fans but if Konrad continues on the trajectory that he’s been on the last four months Morris won’t have a spot either. He has only been working with the top squad for a couple months and hasn’t even played 10 matches for Barca B. He doesn’t need to rush to Girona.
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That is a great point about versatility. Weah can play four positions, Konrad can play either side, Llanez can even slide inside to a 10. Ledezma can play as a wing or a 10. Boyd really can play one spot. Why does Roldan keeping get call ups, one he’s apparently an incredible teammate (according to Wes) but two he’s played a significant amount of minutes at Sounders in as a DM, CM, and RWM.
Morris is the guy for now based on being a dominant 2019 player. Boyd has had one decent game against a poor opponent. I am not sold he is the future at all. There are too many young options who can play wide. I am only sure GB with his veteran bias will try to force it to happen. I am glad we fought for Boyd unlike what we did for Soto. But sometimes they turn out just OK. But to me it’s important to fight for dual nationals and see what happens.