Barcelona midfielder likely to leave even before pre-season preparations begin | OneFootball

Barcelona are set to begin preparations for the 2026/27 campaign on 13 July, but one familiar face may not be present when the squad returns to training.

According to SPORT, midfielder Marc Casado is increasingly likely to leave the club before pre-season gets underway, with Barcelona keen to resolve his future early in the summer window.

The initial group reporting for medical examinations will be limited due to the ongoing World Cup commitments of several first-team players. 

As things stand, players such as Wojciech Szczesny, Alejandro Balde, Gerard Martin, Marc Bernal and Casado are among those scheduled to return first.

However, Casado’s situation appears to be moving rapidly towards an exit.

Barcelona preparing for Casado departure

Casado will not do pre-season with Barcelona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

As reported before, the midfielder has accepted that his path to regular football at Barcelona has become increasingly difficult. 

After slipping down the pecking order, the La Masia graduate now understands that a fresh challenge could be the best solution for his career.

Having spent most of his footballing journey at Barcelona since arriving as a teenager, the decision is not believed to have been an easy one. 

Nevertheless, all indications suggest that both player and club are now open to a separation this summer.

What about a move to Monaco?

In that regard, a move to AS Monaco has been considered the most advanced option in recent weeks. 

Casado will leave Barcelona. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

In fact, Reports have even suggested that an agreement was already in place between the player and the Ligue 1 side.

However, his agent, Jorge Mendes, is understood to have temporarily paused the Monaco move as Casado could potentially become part of a different deal linked to Barcelona’s pursuit of Joao Cancelo from Al-Hilal. 

Under that scenario, the midfielder could instead find himself heading to Saudi Arabia.

Although there are many caveats attached to his transfer, the fact is that Casado will leave Barcelona this summer.