Jonjo Shelvey leaned in for the Barcelona transfer, if he can change his ways

Jonjo Shelvey’s teammate at Newcastle United, Matt Ritchie, says the midfielder could play for Barcelona if they just screwed his head.

England international Shelvey, who has been crowned six times but never since 2015, is in his fifth season at St James’ Park and has featured several featured displays for Steve Bruce’s side throughout the campaign.

And Ritchie says the former Liverpool midfielder’s ability is beyond question.

“What a player, I’ve been to Newcastle four years and seen him in a box no more than 10 times,” Scottish international Ritchie told the YouTube channel In The Box.

“That’s how good it is. His natural ability to see passes, receive the ball, move the ball.”

“I remember playing against him as a kid. I think he scored a hat-trick, it was incredible.”

“He has his moves, ending in Newcastle. I tell him on regular occasions: ‘If your head is tormented, you could play for Barcelona.’

“It’s that good. It has it all.”

Ritchie adds that Shelvey’s love for golf is one of the reasons why he hasn’t reached his potential as a footballer.

“I have told him so many times ‘if you lower your head and focus only on soccer and forget about golf and anything else …'” he added.

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“He is crazy, he will play golf three times a week.”

“I’m like ‘Jonjo, you can’t do that.’

“In Newcastle, he hits the longest passes, he is the one we are looking to open teams and create, I think, and this is not disrespectful to us in Newcastle, but if he was playing in Barcelona or Real Madrid, you can just Imagine … He would simply blow up teams with his skill.

“You have to have everything in the right place and he likes his golf too much!”