22-year-old Barcelona midfielder placed on Saudi Pro League shortlist for next season – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are entering another summer where sporting logic and financial temptation will collide. The squad is taking shape under Hansi Flick, the midfield hierarchy is clearer than it was six months ago, and long-term planning is underway, but as always, the market does not wait patiently for stability.

Interest in young Barcelona players has grown again, and that is not accidental. When a club rebuilds with academy products and emerging talent, external suitors circle quickly. Especially when those players combine pedigree with potential resale value.

This time, the spotlight falls on Marc Casado. According to a report from 365Scores (via SPORT), the Saudi Public Investment Fund has identified the Barcelona midfielder as a target for the upcoming window.

The plan would not involve an immediate formal offer, but rather exploratory contact with the player’s entourage to gauge his openness to a move. The financial component, however, is already being framed aggressively; a proposal north of €40 million could be presented to FC Barcelona to initiate negotiations.

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From a purely economic perspective, that number is significant. Casado is a homegrown player whose transfer would represent almost pure capital gain. In a climate still shaped by Financial Fair Play calculations, €40 million is not abstract money. It influences wage margins. It accelerates renewals. It funds strategic reinforcements.

And yet, football decisions are not spreadsheets alone. Casado may not have been a guaranteed starter this season, but he understands the positional demands of Barcelona’s midfield, presses with intelligence, and distributes quickly. At times, he has been the connective tissue between the lines, not flashy, but functionally essential.

There is also timing to consider, as his contract runs until 2028. There is no urgency forcing Barcelona’s hand. In fact, recent reports from SPORT suggest the club’s intention is to renew him before the season ends, adjusting both duration and salary to reflect his role in the project. That is not how clubs treat players they plan to sell lightly.

The complication lies in opportunity cost. With Pedri and Gavi returning, Frenkie de Jong reasserting control, and young Marc Bernal gaining traction, Casado’s minutes have dipped. If that hierarchy hardens, the midfielder may eventually reassess his path.

From a Barcelona perspective, this is the kind of crossroads that defines modern squad building. The Saudi league’s shift toward targeting younger European talent adds a new layer of pressure. This is no longer just a destination for aging stars; it is now probing upward trajectories.

Barcelona should resist, for now. Selling Casado would solve short-term accounting issues but weaken depth in a position where tactical trust matters. Flick’s system demands midfielders who understand spacing, tempo, and collective responsibility. Casado fits that profile, even if he is not yet a headline name.

If Barcelona are serious about building a sustainable core, they cannot sell every asset the moment the offer feels convenient. Development is rarely linear. A player can move from a rotational piece to a central pillar in a single season.

Casao’s priority, reportedly, is to succeed at the club of his life. That should matter. And if Barcelona believe in him enough to renew him, then the decision becomes philosophical, i.e., do you cash in on potential, or do you invest in continuity? For a club rebuilding identity as much as finances, the answer may define more than one transfer window.