Why Chelsea's Kenedy Would Be a Great Signing for Barcelona

The name of Kenedy wasn't that well known in European football circles before Chelsea took the plunge to sign the 20-year-old starlet.

Brazilian football knew it had unearthed another gem and agent Kia Joorabchian—of the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano deals to West Ham United fame—believes that Kenedy is his best-ever player, according to a report by Oliver Todd for the Daily Mail.

That's some claim, but it's fair to say that fans of the west London team have been surprised and delighted in equal measure by the form of the wide man.

Christopher Lee/Getty Images

Ditto Jose Mourinho before the Special One's departure from Stamford Bridge.

Although Guus Hiddink has used him more sparingly than his predecessor, when he has played the youngster the Dutchman has done so for longer periods than under Mourinho.

What marks Kenedy out among his peers is his fearlessness; a capacity to quickly learn from his mistakes and to address them as required.

Furthermore, an apparent propensity for hard work is what appears to have endeared him to the management team at Stamford Bridge.

Far too often nowadays, young players who make it to the top levels of the game at a relatively early age already think that football owes them a living.

Players that might have the talent but in no way, shape or form have the application, desire or hunger to get to the top and stay there.

This is where Kenedy excels.

Always giving his best in what is the most physically demanding league in Europe, here we have a player that is high on skill and work rate. An honest player, for want of a better term.

It isn't too often these days that those type of players raise their head above the parapet before they are out of their teens.

But those traits are part of his makeup and what makes him a little different—precisely the reason why he would make an excellent longer-term signing for Barcelona.

It is stating the obvious, but this stage he is not at the level of either Lionel Messi or Neymar, arguably the two players with whom he would be vying for a starting spot.

Left-footed by trade, Kenedy actually prefers to play on the right and cutting inside before unleashing a trademark ferocious shot. Something else of note in his locker.

But he is not going to get ahead of either his countryman or the Argentinian at this point.

BEN STANSALL/Getty Images

As back-up to either initially, his signing would represent good business, and it's worth noting that his skill set would probably be more suited to the more technical La Liga rather than the physicality of the Premier League.

Searing pace when required is yet another asset which would be advantageous for the Catalans when breaking at speed.

If there is one area that needs work, it is his goalscoring. Just one for Chelsea to this point, per WhoScored.com, isn't the best, but then it is only one less than the more-celebrated Eden Hazard.

The Belgian is arguably vastly more experienced too.

The Blues paid £6.7 million for Kenedy's services, and in line with his agent's previous business dealings, there would likely be a healthy profit for both Chelsea and the agent if he were to move the player on.

That wouldn't prove to be prohibitive for Barcelona who are likely to take a long-term view of the acquisition given the player's current age and ability to develop his game further.

Ramires, Oscar and Willian would no doubt have played a part in Kenedy's settling-in process at Chelsea. Dani Alves, Neymar and Adriano can do the same at the Camp Nou.