Leipzig entered the race to sign Marc Casado, after contacting Barcelona during the last 48 hours to inquire about the conditions of the Spanish midfielder’s departure.
The 22-year-old’s departure is almost certain after he was out of Hans Flick’s calculations for the new season, in light of the crowded Barcelona center, so the player will train away from the group while his agent Jorge Mendy works to decide his destination.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that the German club is not the only one interested in Casado’s services, as Turkish clubs are also moving to sign him, including Besiktas, before the summer transfer market closes.
Casado rejected the idea of moving to the Saudi league despite receiving offers, most notably from Al-Hilal, as he prefers to continue his career in Europe and get a greater chance to participate, which strengthens the position of Leipzig and Turkish clubs.
Barcelona are currently willing to collect around €25 million for the sale of the La Masia graduate, after demanding between €30 million and €40 million at the beginning of the summer, knowing that the player’s contract extends until June 2028.
Casado moved to Barcelona Athletic in the 2022-2023 season, making his first-team debut against Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League in November 2022, before being promoted in the summer of 2024, making a total of 72 official appearances, scoring one goal and playing 3639 minutes.
The Bundesliga could become the new destination for more than one player from Barcelona, as Leipzig’s move to Casado comes as Hector Fort approaches Borussia Dortmund, after the German club intensified its negotiations and won the young full-back’s approval for the sporting project.
