Marc Casado’s future at Barcelona is becoming increasingly unclear, with the midfielder aware that his opportunities under manager Hansi Flick could be severely restricted next season.
The 22-year-old is currently part of Barcelona’s squad at the club’s training camp at St George’s Park and remains involved in their preparations for the new campaign. He played 62 minutes in Flick’s side’s match against Birmingham City at St Andrew’s, and is also expected to feature against Preston North End on Monday.
Casado will return to Barcelona on Monday and has until the end of August to decide whether to remain at the club or pursue a move elsewhere.
Flick has made it clear to the player that regular first-team football is likely to be difficult to secure. Casado had hoped the situation might change following Frenkie de Jong’s injury, which is expected to keep the Netherlands international out for several months. That absence could potentially open up more midfield opportunities, and Casado has been working hard during pre-season to make his case.
However, Barcelona have several other options ahead of him in the two deeper midfield positions Flick uses to begin attacks from in front of the defence. Marc Bernal, Pedri and Gavi are all competing for those roles, while Eric Garcia can also operate in midfield. Flick has explained that reality to Casado.
Barcelona received an offer for the Catalan midfielder before 30 June but rejected it because they considered the financial package insufficient. The proposal was worth about 10m euros (£8.6m), a figure that would have helped improve the club’s financial budget for the 2025-26 season.
The Catalan club value Casado considerably higher. Barcelona are seeking between 30m and 40m euros for a player who is only 22, is under contract until 2028 and has already represented Spain.
Casado’s own statistics underline the change in his position within the squad. During the 2024-25 campaign, Flick’s first season in charge, he made 36 appearances and played 2,447 minutes.
He appeared in a similar number of matches last season, making 34 appearances, but his role diminished significantly. His total playing time fell to 1,397 minutes, and there is a possibility it could drop even further if he decides to stay at Barcelona.
The player understands the club’s assessment, having been informed of the likely consequences, but he is still resisting the idea of leaving. Casado has a strong emotional attachment to Barcelona and would find it extremely difficult to depart the club he joined at the age of 13 from Damm.
His agent, Jorge Mendes, has begun exploring possible solutions. There has been considerable discussion about interest from Al Hilal, but Casado does not want to move to Saudi Arabia. He has also received approaches from clubs in Turkey, although he has not considered those proposals seriously.
Mendes, one of the most prominent agents connected to Barcelona’s current board, will therefore continue searching for a destination during the remainder of August.
The central challenge is finding a move that satisfies everyone. Casado wants to remain in Europe, while also hoping to continue fighting for playing time at the club he regards as his footballing home. Only a limited number of European clubs are likely to be able to meet Barcelona’s asking price, but Mendes will continue looking for an offer that matches the expectations of the player and the club.
