According to information from GOAL, FC Barcelona intend to acquire Franck Kessie, the Milan midfielder, in the form of a free transfer this summer. The Ivory Coast international has spent the past five seasons with the Serie A giants, having played his entire professional career in Italy so far, as he was an Atalanta player before that.
A new blow at a lower cost
But so far the 25-year-old has failed to agree new terms with Stefano Pioli’s side, leaving Xavi’s Barca ready to pounce and make the offer without having to. shell out any transfer fee for the playmaker. Kessie is looking to leave San Siro following five years with the Rossoneri – and a move to a more ambitious Blaugrana side might just sit well with the Ivory Coast international.
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For Barca, it’s another win for the cash-strapped club if they can convince him to sign, given his well-documented financial troubles over the past year, which have seen browsing the market with a large number of free transfers. But while Xavi wants Kessie to play a different role to the one he currently has in his squad, the Catalan club are also aware that Milan might still make a better offer.
Milan still in the race
Admittedly, Franck Kessie has rejected several proposals concerning a contract extension – but he might be persuaded to extend his career in Italy in the event of a good offer from the co-leader of Serie A where he has a strong importance on the ground and in the locker room. Having come through the youth ranks of Atalanta in 2014, the 25-year-old enjoyed an exceptional season on loan with Cesena in Serie B during the 2015-16 season, before returning to the Dea the following season.
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However, he only spent one more year with them in Bergamo, before being loaned to AC Milan for two years with an obligation to buy in 2017. It was there that he really contributed to make a name for himself, establishing himself as a key player at San Siro while collecting other international selections with Côte d’Ivoire, including three selections during the AFCON and a member of the Ivorian selection during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics .