Liverpool target Martin Montoya has told Barcelona he wants to leave the Catalan club in a quest for more first-team soccer.
The 23-year-old right-back started his career at the famed La Masia youth academy and rose through the ranks at the Spanish side before making his senior debut during the 2010-11 campaign.
He has found first-team playing time extremely difficult since the arrival of Luis Enrique. Montoya made 28 appearances for Barcelona from August 2012 until May 2014, but this season the Spanish defender has made only one appearance for the La Liga giants in all competitions.
The right-back’s situation at Barcelona has been closely monitored by other European sides. Juan De Dios Carrasco, Montoya’s agent, addressed the media yesterday and confirmed that his client would be pursuing other options.
“He will leave the club in January,” Carrasco said. “There are clubs interested from England, Italy and Germany.”
“When a player wants to leave Barca, as Montoya does, I do not think the club will oppose his departure.”
The agent went on to say that his client’s situation with Barcelona is “complex”, but the player’s lack of first-team action simply comes down to a difference in Luis Enrique’s scheme.
“It’s a very complex situation. The club appreciates him, but the reality is they don’t have confidence in him,” Carrasco told the Spanish radio station SER radio.
“It’s all a football theme, there has been no friction or bad words. It’s to do with the system and scheme that Luis Enrique wants.”
Liverpool and Juventus are believed to be in a head-to-head battle for the defender’s signature. But the Italians hold the advantage because of their strength in Serie A and the strong likelihood of Champions League football next season.
Montoya has a £16 million buy-out clause in his contract with Barcelona. It is understood that Juventus are willing to meet that amount and offer the Spanish defender a lifeline to play in Italy.
According to reports in Spain and Italy, Juventus have already met with Montoya’s agent regarding a deal for the 23-year-old right-back.
