The signing of a pivot is FC Barcelona‘s top priority for next season, and the preferred candidate for the position is Joshua Kimmich, the German international from Bayern Munich. Here at MD, we have compared Kimmich‘s stats with other midfielders (Amadou Onana, Martín Zubimendi, Guido Rodríguez, Khéphren Thuram, Wilfred Ndidi, and Éderson) who have been linked to Barça, and the numbers confirm that the German is the ideal choice for the position.
Passes
The statistical superiority of Joshua Kimmich in passing compared to the other Barça pivot candidates is undeniable. He has attempted the most passes (1,817), completed the most successful passes (1,660), and boasts the best percentage (91.36%) among all potential Barça players. Kimmich also leads in filtered passes (11).
Goals
While scoring goals may not be the primary role of a pivot, the importance of midfielders contributing to scoring is increasing. Éderson leads in this category with 6 goals for Atalanta in Serie A, followed by Martín Zubimendi and Wilfred Ndidi with 4 goals each in LaLiga and the Championship, respectively.
Assists and chances created
Joshua Kimmich once again showcases his dominance in assists and chances created. He has 6 assists in the Bundesliga and has created 69 clear opportunities for his teammates, more than double the records of other potential Barça pivots. Khéphren Thuram and Wilfred Ndidi follow with 28 chances created each.
Aerial game
Amadou Onana is the center with the best stats in this aspect of the game. With his height of 1.92m and strong physique, the Belgian international has won 48 aerial duels (72.73%) in 27 matches in the Premier League, leading in both total number and success rate.
Recoveries, entries, and ground duels
Martín Zubimendi and Éderson are tied in ball recoveries, each with 169. Slightly behind are Dion Lopy (149) and Amadou Onana (148) in this category.
Clearances and interceptions
Martín Zubimendi’s 53 clearances in LaLiga really make him stand out when looking at potential players to strengthen Barça’s midfield. Guido Rodríguez follows with 38 clearances, and Wilfred Ndidi comes in third with 32. Zubimendi from Real Sociedad is also second in the number of interceptions with 37, just behind Éderson who has 38.
This content has been translated and adapted from the Spanish version of the digital newspaper
