Barcelona midfield prodigy turned down overtures from Chelsea, Al-Nassr in the summer | OneFootball

After being sidelined for over a year with the serious ACL injury he suffered in August 2024, Marc Bernal returned to action for FC Barcelona against Valencia earlier this month.

Just 18 years old, the youngster has already demonstrated his immense quality and potential in the handful of first-team appearances he has made.

And, despite the serious injury he sustained last year, Bernal’s stock remains high in Europe, as was seen during the summer transfer window.

Chelsea, Al-Nassr wanted Bernal this summer

Indeed, according to Mundo Deportivo, a number of clubs made enquiries about Bernal in the summer, with Chelsea and Al-Nassr standing out among them.

As per the report, Chelsea’s position was clear. They considered a transfer, as they also did with Fermin Lopez, although no formal offer was ever submitted to Barcelona.

Chelsea’s plan was to offer Bernal a long-term contract, with the first year spent on loan at their sister-club Strasbourg to regain minutes and competitive rhythm.

Marc Bernal attracted a lot of interest in the summer. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

In Saudi Arabia, a last-minute approach was made by Al-Nassr, one of the Public Investment Fund (PIF)-backed clubs.

The team of former Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez and Cristiano Ronaldo was ready to buy the player outright, but did not consider a loan. For them, it was either a transfer or nothing.

Bernal never considered leaving

However, Bernal was not convinced by either Chelsea or Al-Nassr. His dream has always been to play for Barcelona, and he never entertained the idea of leaving.

As such, the 18-year-old La Masia gem rejected all the approaches. He made his intentions clear to both the Blaugrana board and the sporting department.

Since returning, Bernal has only played once, against Valencia, when he came on as a substitute for close to nine minutes. With Gavi out injured, there could be more changes for the youngster moving forward.