Barcelona 2-1 Getafe: 5 Talking Points | LaLiga 2019/2020

#4 Angel Rodriguez passes Nou Camp audition

Angel Rodriguez could soon be a Barcelona player

The new year started on a sour note for Barcelona, with the Catalans losing the services of first Luis Suarez and then Ousmane Dembele.

Both players are among the best in the world in their positions and losing their services for a lengthy period is less than an ideal situation for the club.

In any other league, these absences would have been harmful to their chances for the rest of the season but unique laws in Spain means that there is still hope for the Catalans.

Despite the closure of the winter transfer window, special rules in Spain authorizes clubs to make emergency signings in the case of a long-term injury, with the only caveats being that the injury had to have come after the end of the transfer window and the signed player has to be from a Spanish club.

Barcelona are hoping to take advantage of this and they while Suarez might have been injured in mid-January, the severity of Dembele's injury was not confirmed until the start of February (after the window had shut).

In light of this, the club have turned their attention to several forwards in the Spanish top-flight, with names like Rodrigo, Inaki Williams, and Agel Rodriguez among those linked with an emergency transfer.

However, the release clauses in the players' contracts mean that the latter is the most viable option (€10m), while his age (33 years) means that he would not be too concerned with not playing a starring role.

Angel has been one of the standout players for Getafe, scoring nine goals from just five starts to help them climb up the table.

He made it 10 in the clash with Barcelona and rather remarkably, eight of those have come off the bench (nobody has more in Europe's top five leagues) and he could play a role in Barcelona's quest for league glory.

The club are waiting for confirmation for a transfer from the medical branch of the Spanish authorities and there are strong indications that the deal for Angel would be completed within the week, while his muted goal celebration might have been in deference to the fans of his prospective club.