Barcelona boss Xavi eyes swap deal as he targets Arsenal defender

Jason Soutar
Reported Barcelona target and Arsenal defender Gabriel battles for the ball with Marc Cucurella
Gabriel and Marc Cucurella could be teammates soon

Xavi Hernandez wants to bring Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes to Barcelona, according to reports.

The Brazilian joined Arsenal for a reported £23.4m fee in 2020 and has made 62 appearances for the Gunners.


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He has formed a solid partnership with Benjamin White – who joined for £50m last summer – in the heart of Mikel Arteta’s defence.

According to Sport (via Metro), Barcelona are looking to sign a left-footed centre-half in the summer transfer window, and Xavi is an admirer of Gabriel.

The Catalan club’s hierarchy have discussed the possibility of signing the Brazil international and are open to offering players in a part-exchange deal.

Goalkeeper Neto, forward Memphis Depay and midfielder Riqui Puig have all been mentioned as potential players involved in a deal for Gabriel.

Depay has recently been linked with a move to the Emirates, with Sport claiming he is ‘in the sights’ of Arsenal and Tottenham.

They say that the Dutchman ‘wants to leave’ Barcelona so he can play more minutes ahead of this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.

Elsewhere, Arsenal defender Pablo Mari has revealed that he is loving life on loan at Udinese.

“When I arrived in January, I had a clear and precise idea,” he told Gazetta dello Sport.

“I told the coach and [club owner] Gino Pozzo that I was coming to play. But I realized that I had to earn the job day after day, workout after workout. [Coach] Cioffi was the first who welcomed me, well, here.

“It’s the right championship for me. Very tactical. I try to bring the attacker towards me.

“I really like having the ball and here it can be done and then there is the battle and I like having a battle on the pitch. I would like to stay in Italy.”

Mari added: “I’m very well at Udinese and I’d be happy to take the club even higher in the standings. Of course, I still have a two-year contract with Arsenal.

“I’ve resumed playing continuously after the operation on my left ankle where I was out for five months.”