Barcelona Rumors: Barca Hoping To Revive Contract Negotiations With 'New Pogba'

A Barcelona rising star has yet to secure his spot in the club’s senior team.

Just when it all seemed like Barcelona is close to re-signing Ilaix Moriba, things have become gloomy between both parties along the way.

Apparently, Moriba and his representatives have not been so cooperative in the discussions, but Barca sporting director Mateu Alemany is “willing to re-open negotiations” in the hope to put an end to the said “unfortunate stand-off,” Spanish outlet Sport reported.

The “ideal outcome” is to still renew Moriba’s contract with Barcelona. However, the club was “left surprised by the attitude” of Moriba’s agents, considering the youngster himself hasn’t been complying with the team’s protocols, the report said.

As things stand, Barcelona has made a decision to hold off Moriba’s return to the first team next season and was told to train with the Barca B squad instead until the smoke settles.

Moriba’s agents, on the other hand, don’t feel Barcelona’s current proposal matches their client’s true value. Both parties will be “looking to meet in the coming days” in an attempt to “re-start from scratch,” the report added.

At this point, Moriba’s agents have yet to comment on the matter but his father Mamady had earlier admitted that he hopes his son could follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi at Barcelona.

“I hope Ilaix never leaves [Barcelona] and can be an example for the next generation at La Masia,” Mamady told Sport earlier this year. “I want kids who have doubts about staying to see Ilaix and choose to stay. It happened with [Lionel] Messi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Sergio] Busquets, Xavi [Hernandez], etc. I hope he can always stay at Barca.”

Moriba, meanwhile, also sees himself prospering at Camp Nou for the rest of his professional career.

“I am living a dream and I hope it never ends,” Moriba said after Barcelona’s win over Getafe in April. “We depend on us and we have to go to all the games the same way.”

“There are good vibes in the [Barcelona] dressing room, that is reflected in the results you are seeing,” he continued.

Moriba left a good impression in Ronald Koeman’s squad in his maiden season with the senior team.

The Barca debutant managed to register one goal and two assists to his name this past season and became one of Messi’s co-attacking partners.

His fine form even earned him the moniker “New Paul Pogba.”