Exclusive: Barcelona face Atletico Madrid competition in race to sign €40m-rated La Masia graduate | OneFootball

After last night’s game against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League, FC Barcelona have only two games at maximum left to play in the UCL. Meanwhile, they also have to play another 5 games in La Liga before the end of the season.

All of these games are expected to be important for the Catalans, but still, their focus on these games is not making them oblivious to the needs of their team for the next season.

Barcelona interested in Alejandro Grimaldo

As a result, they are already planning their moves for the upcoming summer transfer window. In this regard, one of the players they have been strongly linked with in the last few weeks is the Spanish defender Alejandro Grimaldo.

The 29-year-old full-back has developed into a highly competent player during his time in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, although he spent his formative years at La Masia between 2008 and 2016.

The Bayer Leverkusen defender is reportedly high on the agenda of Deco, and his arrival would offer Hansi Flick a reliable and experienced alternative to Alejandro Balde. He would not only provide solid cover but also serve as ideal competition for the young left-back.

Grimaldo has already publicly declared his desire to return to Spain, and to Barcelona in particular, in the past.

Spanish fullback Alejandro Grimaldo. [Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images]

Atletico Madrid also interested in the Spanish full-back

Still, getting the player would not really be easy for the Blaugranes, as sources have told Sempre Barca that another big La Liga side, Atletico Madrid, is also interested in the €40 million-rated fullback. Although his desire might be to play for Barcelona, Alejandro Grimaldo has also not ruled out a move to Atletico Madrid.

In addition to this competition from the Mattress Makers, the Catalans would also have to deal with their FFP problems. The Spanish defender’s price tag would be in the range of €35-40 million, and it remains to be seen whether Barcelona have the financial capacity to undertake this operation and then to get the player registered with La Liga ahead of the next season.