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Guillem discusses the forthcoming Barcelona presidential elections and whether Marco Reus is heading to Madrid

Sky Sports' Spanish football expert sheds light on Manchester United's pursuit of defender in Primera Division.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JULY 25:  FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu and Head coach Luis Enrique look on during a FC Barcelona training session at Ciut
Image: Josep Bartomeu (L) among candidates for for Barcelona Presidency

This weekend has been the weekend of the middle class of Spanish football. Villarreal and Sevilla have shown that good coaching, good selection of players and continuity can take you to the top.

You need a bit of money in the modern game. Sevilla have more than Villarreal, but Villarreal have shown that their future, and the future of clubs similar to themselves, lies in their academies.

Villarreal manager Marcelino and Sevilla coach Unai Emery were considered the future of Spanish coaching 10 years ago. It’s interesting how Unai seems to have taken better choices than Marcelino in his career but they both now find themselves at clubs that match their ambition and follow their philosophy.

Villareal players celebrate their first goal during the Spanish league football match Elche FC vs Villarreal CFat the Martinez Valero stadium in Elche
Image: Villarreal have been savvy with their transfer dealings

In both cases it’s about preparing for games, analysing the rival, making sure the players have got all the answers to all the obstacles and making sure they explain to the players what’s going to happen. Both sets of players say the same; they just come onto the pitch with so much good information it really helps them.

Clubs have to be clever in the transfer market and Villarreal have been very clever with Luciano Vietto, Real Madrid loanee Denis Cheryshev and Jonathan dos Santos, for instance. Their captain Bruno, who for me is one of the best central midfielders in Spain, has had offers from bigger clubs but has preferred to stay.

Add to that a very solid and structured defence with two centre-backs, Gabriel, who has been wanted by other clubs, and Matteo Musacchio, who has done a great job alongside him. Continuity is guaranteed at El Madrigal, they have kept their manager since he signed for them in the second division in January 2013, and it’s paying off.

The same goes for Sevilla. Their director of football Monchi is always surprising in the transfer market. Grzegorz Krychowiak, for instance, in centre midfield has been a great signing and nobody misses Alberto Moreno, who left for Liverpool, or Ivan Rakitic, who went to Barcelona.

Sevilla's players celebrate after winning the Spanish league football match Sevilla FC vs Granada FC at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla on Nov
Image: Sevilla's strike-force have been prolific in front of goal

Again, there is continuity there; they are playing the same as they did last season, the rotation system is working, they are taking players out of their comfort zone, giving them a lot of information but also allowing them to grow in the process. Jose Antonio Reyes is a new man, Gerard Deulofeu started on the bench but he is now finally becoming a first division player.

He’s not a starter yet, he’s had brilliant moments but he needs to be more consistent. We will see what happens with him because he probably doesn’t have a place at Barcelona at this stage, or even next season, but they may recall him due to the transfer embargo.

Carlos Bacca, Kevin Gameiro and Iago Aspas have scored as many goals as Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema in all competitions so you are seeing a team that is very competitive. The centre-backs are not the strongest or the tallest but they are fast and that’s the way football is going in a way.

In the Premier League you need to be strong and bigger physically because there are a lot of aerial balls and battles. In Spain you don’t need be the tallest or the strongest, you have to be very fast and be able to play with the ball and the centre-backs of Sevilla have exactly that.

Guillem answers your questions...

Hi Guillem, love your insight as always. With the current situation at Barcelona who do you believe is the most likely candidate for the presidency? Given the transfer ban, it is likely that any candidates will have to present a clear plan going forward? Laporta stated he wants to bring back Pep Guardiola, even though that may not be enough to help the club. (Sam)

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JULY 25:  FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu and Head coach Luis Enrique look on during a FC Barcelona training session at Ciut
Image: Josep Bartomeu (L) among candidates for for Barcelona Presidency

GUILLEM SAYS: There are clear candidates for the Barcelona presidency already. Josep Bartomeu, the president, is going to be a candidate - he has said that himself. Agusti Benedito is also in the running.

He was the second in the vote in the previous election when Sandro Rosell won and he’s been working hard to get a team together and to get the right ideas for a more open, more universal, more modern Barcelona so it will be interesting to see what he has to say about his program and what he wants to do.

I know everybody is waiting on the decision of Joan Laporta, he hasn’t made a decision yet but he is taking the steps towards one. One or two things are stopping him making an announcement and I think he will announce his candidacy when the dates for the elections are announced and I fully expect him to run for the position. If he is a candidate he will be the favourite to win it. Pep Guardiola, though, will not join him at this stage.

Rumours of Marco Reus going to Real Madrid have been floating around for a while now, what is your say on this? (Denja 1203)

Image: Marco Reus: On his way to Madrid?

GUILLEM SAYS: Both Marco Reus and Real Madrid have denied anything will happen in January but there is no doubt whatsoever that Bayern Munich and Real, amongst many others, are trying to convince him to leave Dortmund. I understand Reus is yet to make a decision yet so we will have to wait and see what he decides.

Hola Guillem. What happened with Miranda going to United, that seemed to be quite strong gossip at one point? (Benjarno)

Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte has been linked with a move to Man United, do you think he would be a good fit for the team and could he handle the pace and physicality of the Premier League? (Greg)

Aymeric Laporte
Image: Laporte: Move to the Premier League may be too soon

GUILLEM SAYS: Hopefully this answers both of the questions above! Manchester United are looking at centre-backs in Spain, they have made a €35million offer for Nicolas Otamendi and they are talking to Villarreal about Gabriel, but Villarreal want €20million, the whole of his buyout clause.

In terms of Laporte, I feel that he’s still growing and he’s not as big as centre-backs have to be in the Premier League. He has a lot of quality to play the ball from the back and he’s fast to anticipate danger but I’ve just got a question mark over his physical presence.

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