MADRID (AP) – With Luis Suarez’s uncertain career, young striker Francisco Trinco has an early chance of shining with Barcelona.
Trinco, 20, has just joined the team, but may gain more playing time while the club wonders what to do with Suarez, whom new coach Ronald Koeman has said is on the Dutchman’s plans this season.
Trinco earned credit for his first field performance with Barcelona by impressing enthusiasts and Koeman in a 3–1 friendly win over Nastic on Saturday.
“I liked the way it was located, coming from inside and out,” Koeman said. “It has quality and will start to adapt to the speed and speed of the ball. It was a wonderful signing.
Barcelona paid Portuguese club Braga more than 30 million euros ($35 million) at the beginning of the year to beat Trinco on a five-year contract. He finished the season with Braga and joined Barcelona last month.
Trinco quickly set himself on a tricky stage when he officially entered the Spanish club a day after Lionel Messi announced that he wanted to leave, but showed that he also had out-of-the-box skills to avoid questions about Messi and not be news.
Barcelona incorporated Trinco as a “talented and fast” player with great potential, who was part of Portugal’s youth groups and helped the under-19 national team win the Euro in 2018 as the most sensible goalscorer.
He showed some of that skill and speed after entering the friendly against Nastic, appearing ready with the ball under tension and beating the defenders, being named by the Spanish media as one of the most productive players of the match.
You can also play on the flanks, especially on the right side, but you may face more festival than in the middle of the attack, as Barcelona also relies on more experienced teenagers like Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembélé. Martin Braithwaite, who arrived last season, is also an option for Koeman in attack. The club would also have other options, with Memphis Depay and Lautaro Martínez joining the club.
“I can play in all positions of the attack, ” said Trinco. “I’m here to help in every way I can. “
Trinco is expected to get his chance at the moment when Barcelona takes over Girona in a friendly on Wednesday. The club’s last pre-season match before his Spanish league debut will be against Elche on Saturday.
Barcelona’s first league match, against Villarreal at home, is scheduled for the last weekend of the month, and his first and final match moments were postponed by the team’s participation in the Champions League in August.
It was Barcelona’s shameful 8–2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals that led to Koeman’s arrival and team review.
Messi nevertheless made the decision to stay, however Suarez was one of the players who was told they were not in the new manager’s plans. Suarez remains at the club and trains normally, but was not included in Koeman’s team for last Saturday’s friendly. He has been linked to transfers to clubs such as Inter Milan, Juventus and Atletico Madrid.
But with uncertainty about the Uruguayan striker’s future, Trinco will continue to have a role to impress Koeman and earn a spot on the team.
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