Barcelona are spreading a wide net to find a new defensive midfield signing.

Sport says coach Xavi and sporting director Jordi Cruyff think the best alternative is Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi, but there are various reports about other players too at the club.

One of them is Alan Varela, from Boca Juniors, a player who curiously grew up in a Barça dynamic, and for whom several European teams now pine after.

Varela's history is closely linked to Barça. The Argentine midfielder was trained at the soccer school that the Blaugrana have in Buenos Aires and from there he went to Boca Júniors through the agreement that the two clubs have as a collaboration.

Barça invested in the school, Boca could take players from there and in return the Blaugrana have priority in signing the most outstanding players from the Boca youth academy. Varela is the confirmation of the success of this formula.

Varela grew up playing the Barça style, with a clear idea about keeping possession and grew up playing in the position of defensive midfielder. His adaptation was spectacular and Boca ended up capturing him to give him a chance in the first team.

He has established himself as the undisputed starter and is succeeding in the position of Sergio Busquets convincingly. There are already several teams interested in signing him and the Argentines are asking for around 20 million euros for him. Rumors already place him at Benfica if, finally, Enzo Fernandez is signed by Liverpool.