According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Real Betis center-back Natan Bernardo de Souza has offered his services to Barcelona for the ongoing summer transfer window. The Catalan hierarchy is reportedly giving serious consideration to finalizing the deal.
Barcelona had temporarily put their search for a new central defender on hold to prioritize signing a marquee forward. Furthermore, the club has completely ruled out spending exorbitant fees on high-profile targets like Alessandro Bastoni or Josko Gvardiol.
In recent days, De Souza’s name was presented to the Barcelona board. The Brazilian defender is eager to take a massive leap in his career after established himself as one of Real Betis’ standout performers last season.
Three Key Reasons Why Barcelona Wants Natan de Souza
The Barcelona management is particularly keen on the Brazilian due to three critical factors:
-
Technical and Physical Attributes: Natan is widely considered one of the fastest defenders in La Liga. He possesses immense physical strength and is left-footed—fitting the exact profile requested by manager Hansi Flick.
-
The André Cury Connection: The player is represented by André Cury, an agent who maintains an exceptionally close relationship with the Barcelona board, which could facilitate a seamless negotiation.
-
Low-Cost Financial Operation: Most importantly, the transfer will not break the bank. Real Betis is open to selling the defender for a reasonable fee of €30 million, plus an additional €5 million in add-ons.
Deco Holds Meeting with Natan’s Agent as Decision Looms
A meeting has already taken place between the player’s agent and Barcelona’s Sporting Director, Deco, to discuss personal terms. However, Barcelona has yet to make a final decision on whether to push forward with the deal immediately or wait to explore other center-back options.
It is worth noting that De Souza was a prime target for Real Madrid in the summer of 2025. However, President Florentino Pérez ultimately chose to sign then-Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen in a record-breaking deal exceeding €60 million.
