Barcelona chief compares Ibrahim Afellay to Andres Iniesta
Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta says that the one of the club's main transfer targets, Ibrahim Afellay, has a similar style of play to that of one of their main stars, Andres Iniesta.
Holland international Afellay, who is out of contract at PSV Eindhoven at the end of the season, is currently in the middle of negotiations with the Spanish giants and is eager to earn a move to the Camp Nou.
A transfer fee of 3.5 million euros has been agreed between the two clubs for the player to move in January, but personal terms have yet to be agreed upon.
However, Zubizarreta is confident of getting his man and believes that the 24-year-old will fit perfectly into Barcelona's style of play.
He told his club's official website that: "Ibrahim Afellay is a player we've always been interested in because he’s the ideal player for the Barcelona style. He's young, with a lot of experience, international, who can lose his marker, shoot from long range
and play well down the wings. He reminds me a bit of Andres Iniesta because of the way he moves.
"He has to learn to play with this team, where there is a high level of competition. We have heard that he has a positive attitude and I think he knows what team he’s coming to and which players he will be fighting with for a team place.”
Zubizarreta added that he was keen for the transfer to be completed in January even though it would mean paying a transfer fee as he would like Barca to maintain a good relationship with PSV.
Afellay has spent his entire career at PSV. Since making the breakthrough to the first team in 2003, he has gained experience in the UEFA Champions League and has played more than 150 games for his club.
Meanwhile, the attacker has also won more than 30 caps for his country and has scored two international goals. He was part of the Holland squad which reached the 2010 FIFA World Cup final in South Africa.
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