Barcelona's €40m price tag on Casado deepens midfield crisis

Barcelona are confronting a widening midfield gap after the permanent exits of Ansu Fati and Inaki Pena and the injury to Frenkie de Jong, prompting the club to evaluate the future of 22‑year‑old La Masia graduate Marc Casado, who carries a €40 million price tag. The situation forces the Catalan giants to consider a sale before the transfer window closes.

Ansu Fati and Inaki Pena have already left Barcelona on permanent deals, underscoring the urgency to reshape the roster early in the transfer window. Their departures have left the Blaugrana seeking replacements and a healthier balance sheet.

The loss of those two forwards has heightened the need for midfield reinforcement, especially as the club aims to improve its financial position. Barcelona have therefore been active in the summer market, securing sales to rebalance the squad after those departures.

Compounding the problem, Frenkie de Jong is sidelined with an injury, further depleting the midfield options available to the Catalan giants. With the Dutch midfielder out, depth in defensive midfield becomes a critical concern.

The summer moves are intended to restore both financial equilibrium and on‑field balance for Barcelona. The club’s strategy includes generating profit while maintaining competitive depth.

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Marc Casado, a La Masia graduate now 22, has seen his prominence wane under Hansi Flick’s tactical plans. Flick’s system has reduced the midfielder’s playing time compared with his breakthrough 2024‑25 campaign.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have set an asking price of €40 million for Casado and remain open to a sale before the window closes. The club turned down one proposal that fell short of the €40 million target, signalling it will not settle for less.

Flick has advised the board to listen to offers, believing the squad has sufficient depth in defensive midfield even after Frenkie de Jong’s injury and can absorb Casado’s departure without compromising balance. He argues the team can cope without the La Masia product.

The €40 million figure is deemed fair, especially as a fee for a La Masia product counts almost entirely as profit for Financial Fair Play purposes. This valuation aligns with rising fees across Europe and the Middle East this summer.

Casado’s agent Jorge Mendes is discussing the midfielder’s future, with interest from Saudi Pro League clubs. The player has travelled with the Barcelona squad to England and his status for next season remains uncertain.