Ilaix Moriba signs for RB Leipzig after Barcelona fallout

Ilaix Moriba has joined RB Leipzig after a deadline day move for £14 million after failing to agree to a new deal with Barcelona.

Moriba flew to Germany to complete his medical and eventually sign a five-year deal with Leipzig before the deadline.

Breakdown in Barcelona

The 18-year-old’s current contract with Barcelona was set to expire at the end of next season and the five-time Champions League winners wanted to extend Moriba’s contract as he was seen as an important part of the club’s future.

Barcelona manager, Ronald Koeman, expressed his disappointment with the situation after Moriba and his agent failed to come to an agreement with the club over a new deal.

“I think the situation is horrible. He has had the chance to play for the first team. He is the future of this club.
My advice to him is that money is not the most important thing. It is about playing games. But the player and his agents have decided differently. I am disappointed.”

Club president Joan Laporta also explained the club’s standpoint and the values and beliefs he wants to instil into academy graduates.

“What we don’t want is our players made at La Masia who don’t want to renew. He’s a player we’ve given opportunities to, but the club is above all.”

After the contract talks broke down, Moriba was sent to train with the youth team during pre-season.

Moriba made 18 appearances for Barcelona last year including his Champions League debut in Blaugrana’s second leg fixture against PSG. He scored one goal for the club which came in a 2-0 victory against Osasuna, and it was assisted by none other than Lionel Messi.

Role at Leipzig

After six years at the club, Marcel Sabitzer has left to join Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich along with former teammate Dayot Upamecano and manager Julien Nagelsmann. Sabitzer played 39 times for Leipzig last season and was a pivotal part of the midfield, playing in a deeper role than usual.

Moriba is the ideal replacement for Sabitzer not in terms of the future but also the present. The Guinean international can operate in a box-to-box role for the German side, much like Sabitzer did, but can also play a purely defensive role if necessary.

He often came on as a substitute for Sergio Busquets and played in holding midfield and occasionally filled in at centre-back when asked by Koeman. Being 6”1, Moriba’s build helps him fit in these different positions.

The youngster is able to play in these various roles due to his impressive positional intelligence. When going forward, he is comfortable receiving the ball with both feet and his positioning, as well as runs from deep help, create space for his attacking teammates.

Due to his young age, his physicality leaves something to be desired from a midfielder of his type. However, his intensity and ability to carry out the high press in coordination with his teammates make up for the lack of strength he currently possesses. His athleticism allows him to burst into spaces with quick acceleration but is not as proficient over longer distances.

Moriba’s main competitors for a starting position will be Tyler Adams and Amadou Haidara. Despite a resounding 4-0 win over Stuttgart, Leipzig have had a relatively poor start to the season after suffering 1-0 defeats to both Wolfsburg and Mainz.

Leipzig’s first two fixtures after the international break will be against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and Manchester City in the Champions League. Moriba will be hoping to get some minutes in both of these huge games.

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