What Happened to Emerson Royal at Barcelona?

By Anna Duncan

If you’re a football fan, you may be wondering what happened to Emerson Royal at Barcelona. The Brazilian right-back joined the Catalan giants in the summer of 2021, but his future at the club has been uncertain.

The Background

Emerson was signed by Barcelona from Real Betis in a deal worth €9 million, with the Spanish club paying half of that amount upfront and agreeing to pay the other half next summer. He was brought in as a replacement for Nelson Semedo, who had left for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Initial Impression

At first, Emerson’s arrival seemed like a smart move by Barcelona. He had impressed during his time at Betis, where he spent two seasons on loan from Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro. In fact, he was one of the standout performers in La Liga during the 2020-21 season, registering six assists and scoring four goals.

The Struggle Begins

However, things haven’t gone according to plan for Emerson at Barcelona. He has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under Ronald Koeman and has often found himself on the bench or out of the squad altogether. In fact, he has only started three La Liga games so far this season.

Lack of opportunities

The lack of opportunities is partly due to Koeman’s preference for Sergino Dest at right-back. The American youngster arrived at Barcelona from Ajax last year and has been one of the few bright spots in what has otherwise been a disappointing season for the club.

The Competition

Emerson is also competing with Oscar Mingueza for a place in the starting lineup. The academy graduate has impressed whenever he has been given a chance and has even played as a makeshift centre-back when needed.

Conclusion

So what does the future hold for Emerson at Barcelona? It’s difficult to say at this point.

The club has a buy-back option on him which they could exercise next summer, but it remains to be seen whether they will do so. It’s also possible that Emerson could be loaned out or sold to another club if he continues to struggle for game time.

The Final Words

In conclusion, Emerson’s time at Barcelona has been underwhelming so far. While he showed plenty of promise during his time at Betis, he has found it difficult to establish himself at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Whether he can turn things around and become a success at Barcelona remains to be seen, but for now, his future is uncertain.