Werder Bremen prospect turns down Barcelona transfer opportunity despite strong interest | OneFootball

According to a report from SPORT, Barcelona’s ambitious pursuit of 20-year-old goalkeeper Mio Backhaus has come to a disappointing conclusion.

This is because the young Werder Bremen shot-stopper has turned down the chance to join the Catalan club, prioritising a project where he feels trusted and can secure significant game time.

Despite being a promising talent, Backhaus appears determined to establish himself as a first-choice goalkeeper rather than being part of a rotational setup.

Barcelona had Backhaus on their radar

Barcelona had high hopes for Backhaus, viewing him as a long-term investment to reinforce their goalkeeping department.

Both Hansi Flick and Deco were reportedly enthusiastic about his potential, identifying him as a future starting goalkeeper for the Blaugrana.

Even though he remains a backup at Werder Bremen, the club’s sporting management saw something special in the youngster.

Mio Backhaus has rejected the chance to join Barcelona. (Photo by Fabio Deinert/Getty Images for DFB)

The plan was clear. Barcelona intended to offer Backhaus a role similar to that of Inaki Pena, easing him into the squad while shaping him into a potential starter.

The intention was to eventually loan him out for a couple of seasons to gain valuable experience before making his return as a more polished product, ready to compete for the number one spot.

The youngster has rejected the chance

However, the emergence of Wojciech Szczesny has thrown a wrench into those plans.

Szczesny’s arrival has provided much-needed stability between the sticks, and the Blaugrana’s sporting management now views him as a reliable option worth investing in for the short-term future.

With Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s continuity and the club actively working on renewing Szczesny’s contract for another year, the path for Backhaus has become more complicated.

Though the young goalkeeper has rejected Barcelona’s offer for now, he has not completely closed the door on a future move.

For Barcelona, this situation may be disappointing, but the club will continue to monitor Backhaus’s progress. Should he flourish elsewhere, there is always a possibility that the Catalan giants will revisit their interest in him down the line.