Did Barcelona Make Grave Error Loaning Gerard Deulofeu to Sevilla?

Why is Barcelona prospect Gerard Deulofeu failing to make inroads on loan at Sevilla? Have Barca made a misjudgement? 

Deulofeu was loaned out because he is not rated by Barca manager Luis Enrique.

"Luis Enrique told me that I would not get enough minutes," Deulofeu said, per Football Espana. "One of my aims [on loan at Sevilla] is to show Luis Enrique he was wrong."

Transparency is paramount and according to Deulofeu, Barca acted in a perfunctory manner.

"My departure [from Barca] surprised me a bit," Deulofeu said, per Football Espana. "They made me come back from Everton and then later they told me I wouldn't get minutes."

Loaning Deulofeu to Sevilla is "designed to ensure that he gets to play as many games as possible and therefore develop as a footballer," per Barca's official website.

When asked about Deulofeu's early struggles at Sevilla, Enrique provided the smoking gun to his disdain for the 20-year-old.

"I have not spoken with [Deulofeu] and I don't believe that I have to," Enrique said, per Juan Manuel Diaz at Sport. "But it is [Sevilla manager Unai] Emery who must decide."

Deulofeu is one of the most exciting prospects to graduate from La Masia, so it is disconcerting that Enrique has not even bothered to call up Deulofeu to ask: "What's going on at Sevilla?"

Hypothetically speaking if that call did occur, Deulofeu would likely reply: "Emery thinks Aleix Vidal is a better player than me."

Footballer	Nation	Position	Age	Height	Weight
Aleix Vidal	Spain	RW	25	5'9"	154 lbs
Gerard Deulofeu	Spain	RW	20	5'11"	154 lbs

2013-14 League Only	Aleix Vidal (Almeria)	Gerard Deulofeu (Everton)
Starts/Games	36/38	9/25
Starting %	94.74	36
Goals	6	3
Shots Per Goal	9.83	10.33
Assists	3	3
Key Passes Per Game	1.1	0.4
Dribbles Per Game	1.7	1.8

Credit: Squawka.com.

Deulofeu was statistically superior to Vidal in goals scored, shot accuracy, assists and successful take ons per 90 minutes last season, according to Squawka.

However, Vidal had a two month head-start to acclimatise under Emery.

• Aleix Vidal | Almeria → Sevilla: €3/£2.4 million, June 17, 2014.
• Gerard Deulofeu | Barcelona → Sevilla: Loan, August 14, 2014.

Deulofeu's pace makes him a dangerous proposition for opposing defences.

Though, this is negated at Sevilla as Vidal is one of the fastest players in La Liga.

Vidal is hitting his prime having scored twice (1-1 draw against Valencia and 2-0 win over Getafe) in his first three La Liga games for Sevilla. 

Barca loanee Denis Suarez has started all three of Sevilla's league games thus far, so what is the difference between his and Deulofeu's situation? 

Suarez was a makeweight in Ivan Rakitic's transfer to Barca and Sevilla have a "€6/£4.8 million purchase option after the 2015-16 season," per Tom Conn at Inside Spanish Football.

"

Total deal on B attacker Denis Suarez joining Sevilla on two-year loan as part of Rakitic's transfer. Buy option 6M, buy-back 9M. [ser]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) June 13, 2014"

Whereas, there is no option to extend Deulofeu's loan into a permanent deal, per Sevilla's official website (h/t Sky Sports).

"

Official: Sevilla confirm the signing of Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu (20) on a one-year loan deal without buy option #fcblive

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) August 14, 2014"

Cliff Notes

• No incentive for Emery to play Deulofeu who has no long-term future at Sevilla.
• Deulofeu competing with Vidal who is tied with Carlos Bacca as Sevilla's top scorer in league play this season (two goals).

Enrique's experiences growing up as a professional footballer may swing his opinion in forcing Deulofeu to continue toiling away at Sevilla, per Andy Mitten at FourFourTwo:

"

They [Real Madrid] put me in midfield [and] I'd never played there before. 

What was I supposed to do? It was difficult. Then to full-back.

Normally, a player would leave in these circumstances.

Madrid wanted to loan me to Sevilla. Then they decided I could stay and I stayed five years. I adapted to the position and did what my trainer wanted me to do.

...

Young players have to understand, adapt and learn. They have to learn little by little otherwise there is too much pressure in them. 

"

Enrique inferring Deulofeu needed to "crave the chance to play for the club [Barca]" during pre-season, per Javier Miguel at Sport, forewarned a loan to Sevilla. 

In Enrique's eyes, perhaps being benched at Sevilla will knock the bravado, the ego and swagger out of Deulofeu, who at times emulates Cristiano Ronaldo.

Yes, the same Ronaldo that Deulofeu mocks, he mimicks.

Not the Ballon d'Or-winning version, but circa 2003-04 CR7: Blind dribbling, more flair than substance and repeatedly showing low football IQ. 

Just ask Deulofeu's former teammate Phil Jagielka.

"Gerry [Deulofeu] came in and he was quite a selfish player, [but] with a tremendous amount of ability," Jagielka said, per Henry Winter at The Telegraph. "We are probably taught to be less selfish but technically there is no difference. The ideal comparison is Raheem [Sterling] to Deulofeu and for me Raheem had the best season."

Like Iago Aspas and Ever Banega, Emery views Deulofeu as a luxury substitute at Sevilla.

Barca have Deulofeu on their books until 2017 with a €35/£27.9 million buyout clause, per Barca's official website, so the club need to protect his transfer stock.

"

Deulofeu, on loan at Sevilla, has to play a high % of Sevilla games this season. If not, Sevilla will have to pay a penalty. [el desmarque]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) August 16, 2014"

If Deulofeu is still sitting on Sevilla's bench come January, Barca need to recall him and then loan him to a relegation-threatened La Liga team with an opening in the right-wing slot.

@allanjianga

+allanjiang

Statistics via WhoScored