Barcelona reserve team defender attracts major offers amid fitness concerns | OneFootball

Mamadou Mbacke is the second-most experienced player in FC Barcelona’s reserve team, Barça Atletic, in terms of age after only Emilio Bernad.

The 23-year-old centre-back has been a part of Barça Atletic since 2023, when he was initially signed on loan from LAFC, before the transfer was made permanent a year later.

The Senegalese defender, though, has not had much luck during his time at Barcelona due to injuries.

However, this time around, he has established himself as a key figure in the team under Juliano Belletti, while also training with the first team under Hansi Flick on occasions.

Offers for Mbacke

But, according to SPORT, the RFEF Segunda Division has proven to be a level below Mbacke’s ability, and he currently has significant offers on the table.

Indeed, the 23-year-old defender has several important offers, including from La Liga 2 clubs such as Cadiz CF and Malaga, as well as interest from abroad, including Slavia Praha and FC Basel.

Mbacke’s contract at Barcelona expires on 30 June, meaning a decision regarding his immediate future must be taken soon. So, if the club wish to secure a transfer fee, they would need to complete a sale this month.

Mbacke attracting interest. (Picture credit: Barcelona official website)

At the same time, it must be noted that the club retain the option of extending the deal by two more years.

Concerns over fitness

Mbacke started for Barça Atletic against Valencia Mestalla on Wednesday, but suffered a heavy knock in the 73rd minute and had to be carried off the pitch on a stretcher.

Alarm bells rang because the affected area was the ankle, where he had previously suffered a serious injury that sidelined him for more than six months. However, as per the report, the injury is to the other ankle.

Although initial impressions suggested a potentially serious issue, the first examinations provided some relief. Even so, the player will undergo further medical tests to determine the exact extent of the injury.

This potential injury is a key factor in determining whether or not he leaves.