From Blackburn to Barca? How N’Zonzi became La Liga’s hottest property
The French midfielder has been outstanding for Sevilla this season and could end up moving to Camp Nou as back-up for Sergio Busquets
From Blackburn to Barcelona? The career of Steven N’Zonzi is on the up and up and, just a few years after he was part of a team that was relegated to the Championship in England, he could end up moving to Camp Nou.
N’Zonzi’s rise has taken time. The midfielder, who is now 27, started his career at Amiens in France’s second tier, but signed for Blackburn after his side went down to the third division and became an important player under Sam Allardyce, winning the club’s Player of the Year award in 2009-10.
But, when Blackburn were relegated in 2012, N’Zonzi told the club he wanted to leave and he joined Stoke City. During his time at the Potters, N’Zonzi impressed again and twice handed in transfer requests. He ended up staying both times, but after three years at the club he refused an offer of a new contract and was sold to Sevilla for a fee of just over €9 million.
A tall and athletic defensive midfielder, N’Zonzi works hard to cover ground during games, is disciplined tactically, with a good passing range and an eye for goal, earning comparisons with former France international Patrick Vieira.
He has blossomed at Sevilla under Unai Emery and now, in particular, Jorge Sampaoli, with a string of excellent performances for the Andalusian side that have seen Barcelona sit up and take notice, along with other elite European teams, including Chelsea.
The Catalans are seeking a player who can provide back-up to Sergio Busquets in midfield, with the Catalan struggling for his best form in the current campaign and no real replacement at Camp Nou to rest him – especially as Sergi Samper was allowed to move to Granada on loan in the summer.
“It’s good to know that Barcelona, one of the best clubs in the world, are watching my matches,” N’Zonzi said recently. “I’m very focused on Sevilla. I love the club, the supporters and the city and I feel good. The most important thing for me is to play and enjoy my football, and at Sevilla I am doing that.”
And why not? Sevilla, who want N’Zonzi to sign a new contract, are flying high in La Liga, in third place and just two points behind Barca, while Sampaoli’s side are on the verge of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League despite losing 3-1 at home to Juventus on Tuesday night.
Prior to that match, N’Zonzi and Busquets had both played 16 matches in 2016-17. In those, the Frenchman has scored three goals and created eight chances, with a passing accuracy of 89.5%, 28 tackles, 23 interceptions, 98 duels won, 21 clearances and 1,452 touches of the ball in total.
By comparison, the Spain midfielder has not scored (that is never his speciality), creating six chances, with a slightly superior passing accuracy percentage (91.3%), 48 tackles made, 28 interceptions, 81 duels won, six clearances and 1,179 touches in total.
Not dissimilar stats and numbers that show the France-born midfielder, who is also eligible to play for Congo, could be an ideal man to provide both back-up and perhaps support in the same side as Busquets in future.
From Amiens, Blackburn, Stoke and now Sevilla, it would be the next step in an impressive rise to the very top of the game for Steven N’Zonzi.
