Al-Hilal have made fresh contact with Barcelona over the potential signing of midfielder Marc Casadó, with the 22-year-old’s departure from Camp Nou appearing increasingly likely. The Saudi Pro League club are reportedly making progress in discussions over personal terms with the player, though a significant gap remains regarding the transfer fee.
Pre-Season Exile Signals Exit
Casadó was notably excluded from Barcelona’s pre-season squad for recent friendly matches against Nottingham Forest and Udinese. The decision to leave the midfielder at home follows a campaign in which his influence under manager Hansi Flick gradually diminished, indicating he no longer features prominently in the German’s plans.
Barcelona are actively seeking to offload the Spaniard as they look to rebuild their midfield. The Catalan club have identified Casadó’s departure as a priority to create both squad space and financial resources for incoming transfers.
Valuation Dispute
While sources suggest personal terms between Al-Hilal and Casadó are advancing, negotiations over the transfer fee remain unresolved. Barcelona value the midfielder at more than €30 million, though separate reports from Goal indicate the club are demanding closer to €40 million. The Saudi outfit may seek to negotiate this figure downwards as talks continue.
Midfield Reconstruction
The urgency to sell Casadó links directly to Barcelona’s ambitious pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Rodri. The Catalans view the sale as essential to freeing up the necessary funds and squad space to accommodate the Spain international, who represents a primary target as Flick seeks to add depth in the centre of the park.
With competitive fixtures approaching, Casadó’s absence from pre-season preparations suggests Barcelona are operating on the assumption that an agreement will ultimately be reached. The coming days will determine whether Al-Hilal can meet the Spanish club’s valuation or if the gap between the parties proves too wide to bridge.