“They asked us” – Barcelona director confirms Manchester City approach for €55 million defender | OneFootball

Manchester City made an approach for one of Barcelona’s star defenders during the most recent summer transfer window, a Camp Nou official has confirmed.

City’s defensive strategy has been a recurring theme in recent windows, with Pep Guardiola searching for reinforcements to bolster his back-line, despite investing heavily in defenders such as Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias in recent years.

During the 2024/25 campaign, Guardiola rotated his options at right-back and centre-back, with John Stones’ injuries and Manuel Akanji’s uncertain future and questionable form raising questions over squad depth.

City’s recruitment team have therefore cast their net wide in pursuit of long-term solutions, with reports linking the club to versatile defenders underlining this approach, particularly as Guardiola has already experimented with midfielders like Matheus Nunes in defensive roles.

Barcelona, however, have been keen to shut down any speculation of a potential exit for Jules Koundé, who remains a core part of their project under Hansi Flick, and given the financial complexities at the club, losing a starter without a replacement is viewed as highly unlikely.

Speaking during a new conversation with Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona sporting director Deco has been quizzed on claims that City made an approach for Jules Koundé during the recent summer transfer window.

“No, there was no offer,” Deco responded, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness.

“It’s true that City were looking for a full-back and they asked us if Koundé was on the market, but there was no offer or any negotiation,” he added.

“Before, there was Txiki [Begiristain], and now with Hugo Viana, who is a good friend, the relationship is direct.”

For City, the enquiry highlights their willingness to explore every avenue in search of the perfect defensive profile. With Pep Guardiola insisting recently that he is “happy” with Kyle Walker replacements already in the squad, any new addition would likely need to offer both versatility and long-term value.

Whether City return for Koundé or not may depend on how the futures of Manuel Akanji and John Stones unfold over the coming seasons, with Inter having already made plans for the Swiss defender in 2026, while Stones is into the final months of his contract.

For now, Deco’s confirmation of City’s approach is another reminder of the club’s proactive transfer planning. Even if no deal materialised this summer, the Premier League giants have made clear that they are attentive to any situation that could strengthen their squad.