Miralem Pjanic is not behaving as expected in Barcelona. Bosnian footballer came to strengthen the core and take the place left by Arthur Melo, but former Juventus has failed to convince a Ronald Koeman who prefers to continue to maintain the De Jong – Sergio Busquets pairing or, even, when either of those two is absent, to put Pedri in a more backward position.
Until, Pjanic has played nine league games, starting just two. The last of them, in the comfortable victory of the Catalans against Valladolid, where the absences of footballers like Coutinho or Griezmann made it possible to see the best version of a Leo Messi associated wonderfully with Pedri, generating a climate of optimism and of illusion to Barcelona fans.
Before reaching the shock played against the Pucelano team, Pjanic lived a few days during which he suffered from not playing. For example, against Real Sociedad, Barcelona won 2-1 and Ronald Koeman He preferred to admit Carles Aleñá rather than the Bosnian, although that day he would end up playing for a quarter of an hour. Against Valencia, also at Camp Nou, Pedri started in the double pivot and in the second half as he prepared to enter the squad he scored 2-2 and Barca coach sent him back on the bench. Too He would eventually jump into the playing rectangle, but at minute 85.
Former Juventus anda has publicly complained about his lack of minutes. Accustomed to being important in the Vecchia Signora, Miralem Pjanic sees relegated to the background at the Camp Nou. In the Santander League, he only played 281 minutes, which contrasts with the 471 ′ in the Champions League. The Bosnian midfielder has been a starter in every game of the highest continental competition, being the footballer with whom Koeman tries to give Sergio Busquets a rest.
In total 752 minutes so far this season that collide with the more than 1000 that add, for example, the Canary Pedri on his legs between the League and the Champions League. Pjanic, a veteran footballer with a lot of experience at the highest level, is not happy with the loss of visibility when signing for Barcelona and on top of that he sees how the younger ones trample and steal the minutes he requires.
And is when he was on the green, Miralem Pjanic didn’t show he deserved those minutes either. Against Valladolid he signed one of his best games as a culé, but he was in sync with the whole squad to beat Sergio González’s side in José Zorrilla. Before this victory, the Bosnian offered a cold version and with a performance much worse than expected.
ANDThis leads to recall this operation that Barcelona signed to sign him. The azulgranas have accepted sell Arthur Melo to Juventus to seize the money needed to deal with the accounts, but then they had to hire Miralem Pjanic. Virtually a barter that every fan of culé and every spectator considered a botched operation. They signed a 30-year-old footballer and got rid of a 24-year-old while the team and the club needed a team renewal.
Besides the subject of ages, now on the ground it is reflected that, perhaps, the sports operation was not too good. Arthur also needs his time to adjust to Juventus, but he has already left some good details that his club and fans are very happy about. In Serie A he has played more minutes than Pjanic, but unlike the Bosnian, where the Brazilian rests is in the Champions League.
In short, practically a third of the season has been played, but seeing both players it can be said that Arthur has awakened more optimism and confidence in his new team than Pjanic in Barcelona. There is still a long way to go and Busquets will need more rest, but the Bosnian must step up this performance with which he can convince Ronald Koeman to give him more opportunities than he has had so far for his public complaints about his lack of minutes. have a good foundation to build on.
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