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Villarreal coach Unai Emery has confirmed Barcelona’s interest in Juan Foyth just one year after Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur sold the La Liga ace, speaking to Cadena Ser. With

Sergino Dest out of favour, the sight of Nelson Araujo starting at right-back during Barca’s opening game of the season – a frustrating 0-0 draw with Rayo Vallecano – felt like a timely

reminder of the mismatch, rather lopsided nature of this _Blaugrana _squad. Araujo, in an ill-fitting wide role, was the very definition of a square peg in a round hole. The proverbial ‘fish

up a tree’. No wonder Xavi has set his sights on a player who, during two excellent seasons at Villarreal, has proven himself to a reliable performer across a multitude of defensive roles,

not just at right-back but also centre-half and defensive midfield. BARCELONA WANT FORMER TOTTENHAM MISFIT JUAN FOYTH FROM VILLARREAL “Barca’s interest is real,” admits Emery, who led

Villarreal to an excellent 2-0 win away at 2021 La Liga champions Atletico Madrid over the weekend, via Sport. “It’s a position they need to fill and Foyth fits the bill. The issue is

whether the player wants to leave or not. Being called by a team (like Barcelona) is always goo. But he has always told me that he is very happy. That he does not contemplate leaving and

that he wants to stay. “I am calm after the conversation I had with him.” Foyth has come a long way since Tottenham accepted a £13 million bid_ _just over 12 months ago. And while Villarreal

hope to retain their all-action Argentine international, a sizeable return on their investment would at least represent some consolation. Foyth has a £35 million release clause in his

contract. The club from the Castellon coast are unlikely to accept a penny less. “I wanted to leave and have more continuity,” Foyth told Onda Cero ahead of Villarreal’s shock victory over

Bayern Munich en route to the Champions League semi-finals last season, before expressing his adoration for a club who rescued hm from the Spurs bench. MORE TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STORIES “I

never thought I would have a feeling like this for a club. From the first day, I knew that I wanted to stay.” Fortunately for Emery, and unfortunately for Barcelona, Foyth’s devotion to

Villarreal appears undiminished.