Luis Suarez has reportedly backed Barcelona's surprise January swoop for Stoke City's Glen Johnson amid the club's right-back injury crisis.
Suarez and Johnson have remained good friends from the duo's time together with former club Liverpool, and have stayed in touch despite their career trajectories going in different directions.
Now the Daily Mail is claiming that the Uruguay superstar wants Barca boss Luis Enrique to bring the 32-year-old to the Camp Nou - even on a short term deal - after the La Liga giants were forced to convert midfielder Sergi Roberto into a makeshift full back in recent weeks.
Luis Suarez would be happy to see Stoke City defender Glen Johnson join him at Barcelona | Stoke Sentinel https://t.co/y9DtCAoUXt
Suarez, who moved to Barcelona in July 2014, spoke glowingly about Johnson in his May 2015 autobiography and, as part of the Catalan club's fearsome front three, may hold some sway over who the Spanish side target.
Back then he said: "He (Johnson) impressed me hugely. He has a combination of physical strength, power and intelligence and technically he's so good that despite being right footed he shoots better off of his left foot."
Roberto has been deployed in the unfamiliar position ever since summer signing Aleix Vidal fell out of favour over accusations of an attitude problem, as well as Enrique losing faith in the 27-year-old following his abject performance in the 2-1 defeat to Alaves back in September.
Enrique has also tried to implement a back three, or use Javier Mascherano at right-back during emergencies as he plots a way for Barcelona to move on from the departed Dani Alves, who joined Juventus on a free transfer in the summer.
Johnson is said to have a slight grasp of the Spanish language and, with his Stoke contract due to expire at the end of the season, speculation suggests that the ex-Portsmouth star could be enticed to Spain's top flight when the winter transfer window opens - even if he is only handed a six-month contract by the reigning La Liga champions.
Barcelona hope to free up space in their first-team squad by loaning Vidal out come January, and will look to replace him with either Johnson or Shakhtar Donetsk's Darijo Srna.
Should Johnson's move prove to be more than just scant rumour, he will join the likes of Edgar Davids and Henrik Larsson in becoming a veteran player that moved to Barcelona on a short term contract in a bid to ease pressure on their established stars.
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