Ilaix Moriba Prepares for Another Face-off Against FC Barcelona with RC Celta

Ilaix Moriba, the promising young midfielder originally from Guinea, is set to face his former club, FC Barcelona, yet again. The player, currently on loan at RC Celta from RB Leipzig, is preparing for the upcoming match at Balaídos. This confrontation marks the fourth time Ilaix will play against Barcelona since his departure from the club in August 2021 when he signed with RB Leipzig after a €16 million transfer.

Moriba, who left FC Barcelona with only a year remaining on his contract, moved to RB Leipzig seeking better economic conditions. Despite being seen as a player with immense potential, his career trajectory has not aligned with expectations. During his initial period at Leipzig, Moriba only accumulated 190 minutes of playtime before being loaned out for more game opportunities.

His loan stints took him first to Valencia, where he spent a season and a half, but failed to secure victories against Barcelona in two encounters, losing 1-4 and 0-1. After another stint on the bench, Moriba moved to Getafe in another loan spell, where again he faced defeat to Barcelona with a 4-0 loss.

This August, Moriba joined RC Celta on a loan deal that includes a purchase option. The season has seen him on the field for 434 minutes across ten matches. Although he has not yet scored or assisted, his presence is becoming increasingly critical under the management of coach Claudio Giráldez.

Interest from RC Celta in securing Moriba’s services beyond his loan term is rising, with discussions regarding executing the purchase option actively taking place, reports SPORT. Tilting the balance in his favor is his growing integration and performance within the team.

Marsiscus Alonso, another former Barcelona player, has taken a key role in RC Celta’s defense post his move as a free agent this summer. Alonso’s contribution in central defense has involved 730 minutes of play over nine matches.