Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado appears increasingly likely to leave the club in search of regular first-team football, but finding the right destination is proving more complicated than many expected.
In that regard, several clubs have been linked with the midfielder in recent months, including teams from the Premier League, Saudi Arabia and La Liga.
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One of the most persistent rumours involved Atletico Madrid. On paper, the move made sense, as Diego Simeone values the qualities that have become associated with Casado during his rise through Barcelona’s ranks.
However, according to SPORT, Atletico Madrid have now moved away from the possibility of signing the Barcelona midfielder.
What’s the story?
The outlet mentions that Casado’s representative, Jorge Mendes, has held discussions with Atletico’s director of football, Mateu Alemany, and the Barcelona midfielder’s situation was one of the topics explored.
Atletico Madrid are not interested in Casado. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
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Despite those conversations, the response from the Madrid club has been far from encouraging. Simply put, Atletico have reservations about whether Casado fits their current needs.
The reality is that the Rojiblancos have already strengthened the position with the arrivals of Rodrigo Mendoza and Obed Vargas, pushing Casado further down Atletico’s list of priorities.
Mendes exploring alternatives across Europe
With Atletico Madrid seemingly out of the picture for now, Casado’s camp has been forced to widen the search.
Mendes, on that front, is actively looking for opportunities that can offer the Barcelona midfielder exactly what he wants at this stage of his career.
Casado could still leave Barcelona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
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So far, Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal remain one of the clubs interested in his situation. Financially, it would be an extremely attractive proposal, potentially dwarfing other offers on the table.
From a sporting perspective, though, there are doubts, as the midfielder prefers to continue his development in a highly competitive environment.
That preference could ultimately steer him towards Europe despite the financial temptation elsewhere.
While Barcelona are seeking at least €20-25 million for Casado, the coming weeks could reveal whether the market is willing to match that valuation.
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