Barcelona is close to agreeing to sign Franck Kessie on a free transfer from AC Milan at the end of the season, according to several sources. Nothing appears to have been signed yet, but all of the documentation is currently being prepared.
Kessie joined Milan from Atalanta in the summer of 2019 for a fee of around €25 million, according to reports. Since then, he’s made a total of 213 appearances for the Rossoneri in all competitions, scoring 36 goals and assisting on 16 additional goals. He is primarily a defensive midfielder, but he can play anywhere in the midfield.
Milan were undoubtedly keen to sign the 25-year-old to a new deal, but Xavi Hernandez, as well as former Barcelona and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure, are claimed to have personally persuaded him to leave San Siro for the Camp Nou.
Kessie will be paid a €6.5 million sign-on fee and €6.5 million in salaries each season by the Catalan club.
Kessie has been a regular in the Rossoneri’s side since his debut nearly five years ago, having played in over 200 games for the Rossoneri in all competitions.
However, with his contract expiring at the conclusion of the current season and no indication that it will be renewed, there have been growing suspicions that the 25-year-old might leave for free, and those fears appear to be coming true.
AC Milan fans are enraged as another star is ready to go for free
Long-serving goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma also left the San Siro for free last summer, joining French powerhouse Paris-Saint-Germain.
Seeing Kessie on the verge of leaving, especially on a free transfer, will be a difficult pill to swallow, and it will serve as a stark reminder that AC Milan is no longer the dominant force it once was.
Stats
Franck Kessié had 17 appearances in the Italian Serie A season 2021/22. (plus 5 as a sub). He has six shots on target out of a total of 15 and has five goals (3.49 xG). Franck Kessié averages 44 passes per game and has a 90 percent pass completion rate. He also has 0 assists. Franck Kessié has been issued one yellow and zero red card. Franck Kessié’s average Player Rating in the Italian Serie A for the 2021/22 season is 6.57.
Franck Kessié has four appearances in the Champions League season 2021/22. (plus 1 as a sub). From a total of 3 shots, he has 1 shot on target and has scored 0 goals (0.34 xG). Franck Kessié has one assist and averages 37 passes per game with an 85 percent pass completion percentage. Franck Kessié has two yellow cards and one red card to his name. Franck Kessié’s average Player Rating for the 2021/22 Champions League season is 6.20.
Franck Kessié’s most recent match came against Empoli in the Italian Serie A, where AC Milan won 1-0 at home.
Salary
The administration of FC Barcelona has already begun the process of putting together a roster for next season. The club has reached a deal with AC Milan star Franck Kessie for his arrival in the summer, according to the latest rumours.
Kessie’s arrival to Barcelona will be free, thanks to his Milan contract expiring in the summer, which is a huge benefit given the club’s well-documented financial problems. At Barca, he is likely to earn roughly €6.5 million in net salary every season.
Contract with AC Milan
Franck Kessie’s contract with AC Milan is slated to end in June 2022, making him a free agent, although the Rossoneri may allow him to depart in January to avoid him leaving Italy without a contract.
The Ivorian midfielder joined Atalanta for a fee of 27 million euros, and he is now garnering interest from Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur.
Xavi, like has been the case with the club’s other new players since his arrival as manager, is said to have played a key role in the negotiations for Kessie’s entrance. Furthermore, Kessie is alleged to have turned down two substantial Premier League offers to play for Barcelona.
With his profile, Kessie’s arrival at Barca will give a fresh dimension to the midfield. The center midfielder, who is known for his box-to-box play, will be an interesting alternative for Xavi to pick from, putting even more pressure on the already crowded midfield. Riqui Puig, as previously reported, would have to hunt for a new club following the arrival of Kessie in order to get more playing time.
In order to recruit Kessie in January, a club would have to pay an amount that AC Milan considers acceptable, and according to The Telegraph, Antonio Conte is pressuring Spurs to do so.
Spurs are aware that allowing Kessie to leave on the open market in July will almost certainly result in an auction, with the North London club unlikely to be the highest bidder.
