Saudi Pro League Eyes Barcelona’s Homegrown Midfielder Marc Casado for Summer Move

Barcelona’s La Masia graduate Marc Casado has emerged as a prime summer target for Saudi Arabian clubs ready to table a lucrative deal, according to Mundo Deportivo. The 20-year-old’s stock has dipped this season after slipping down Hansi Flick’s midfield hierarchy, prompting Middle Eastern outfits to test his resolve with a big-money offer.

Casado has featured in 29 matches across all competitions, logging 1,276 minutes, but his influence has waned since Marc Bernal’s return from injury offset the earlier absence of Frenkie de Jong. The Catalan’s performances when called upon have failed to convince the coaching staff, intensifying debate over whether he remains part of the long-term project at Camp Nou.

Interest is not new: Premier League and Atlético Madrid scouts monitored him last year, yet the Saudi Pro League now leads the chase, prepared to hand Casado a salary package that would dwarf his current terms. Despite the noise, sources close to the player insist he is not entertaining an exit before the season’s conclusion, prioritising Barcelona’s pursuit of La Liga and Champions League honours.

Casado committed to a contract extension in June 2024, tying him to the club until 2028 and setting a €100 million release clause. He is expected to weigh every option once the campaign ends, with multiple European and Middle Eastern suitors poised to enter formal negotiations.

Barcelona must now decide whether to integrate the academy product into future plans or entertain offers that could reshape Casado’s career trajectory.