By Pete Jenson for MailOnline
Published: 14:04 EDT, 4 July 2018 | Updated: 14:04 EDT, 4 July 2018
Yerry Mina has had some first six months in Europe football. He signed for Barcelona in January, was soon criticized for not fitting in, but then became Colombia’s leading scorer at the World Cup as they came within a penalty shootout of a quarter-final place.
He ended up with more goals than Lionel Messi but the question he and Barcelona supporters want answering now is: will the two be club team-mates next season. Despite the heroics in Russia the club are still considering loaning him out this summer.
Mina arrived from Palmeiras for 11.8 million euros in January and it was soon clear the 23-year-old was unorthodox. He took his first steps on the Camp Nou playing surface barefoot during an unconventional presentation.
Yerry Mina was Colombia’s leading scorer at the World Cup before they lost against England
The towering defender ended up with more goals than Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi
Mina scored a late equaliser against England to force the game into extra-time in Moscow
He had done the same when he joined Palmeiras citing his religious beliefs and quoting from the bible that land that is first stepped on with bare feet is duly conquered.
He has not conquered yet.
He scored in the Catalan Super Cup and there was a special dance to celebrate his first goal for Barcelona. But he struggled to learn the art of defending the Barcelona way and there were calls for him to be sent out on loan. His partnership with Thomas Vermaelen was even dubbed Tom and Yerry by some.
Everyone at the club is impressed by him physically - the huge stride that means he covers so much ground quickly. And the leap that has seen him score three headed goals at the tournament.
Mina arrived at Barcelona in January and it was soon clear the 23-year-old was unorthodox
Everyone at the club is impressed by him physically with his huge stride and emphatic leap
Barcelona's interest in Sevilla's Clement Lenglet may mean Mina is likely to be shown the door
The final decision is still to be taken over his future but the World Cup has not entirely convinced the club that he would not benefit from a season of first team football elsewhere.
If Philippe Coutinho can take an EU passport this summer then Barcelona will have three non-EU playing spaces and the big defender could ocupy one but if a club is found for him, and Barcelona follow through on interest in Sevilla's Clement Lenglet as their third centre-back, then Mina is more likely to be shown the door.
He said on Tuesday: ‘I’m relaxed over my future. My feet are firmly on the ground and my eyes are on the sky. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone.’
He does still need to prove himself at Barcelona. Thanks to his displays in Russia he will not be sold but a loan still looks the most likely option.