Barcelona star Marc Casado linked with €40m move to Saudi Arabia

Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado has emerged as a €40 million summer target for Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, according to a report from 365Scores. The 20-year-old, who rose through La Masia and has been touted as one of the club’s most promising home-grown talents, now finds himself at the centre of a potential blockbuster transfer that could test both Barcelona’s resolve and the player’s own ambitions.

Sources indicate that the PIF, which has previously bankrolled headline-grabbing moves for global superstars, is shifting strategy. Rather than pursuing household names in the twilight of their careers, Saudi officials are now scouring Europe for emerging stars capable of elevating the Saudi Pro League’s profile over the long term. Casado, a dynamic midfielder known for his energy and tactical intelligence, reportedly sits high on that shortlist.

Barcelona’s well-documented financial constraints add intrigue to the situation. Club officials privately acknowledge that a €40 million injection would provide welcome breathing room within LaLiga’s strict salary cap structure, potentially allowing the Blaugrana to register new signings or renew existing contracts. While no formal bid has arrived, the Catalan giants are expected to entertain negotiations should the Saudis firm up their interest.

For Casado, the dilemma is acute. He has repeatedly expressed a desire to remain at Camp Nou and views Barcelona as the ideal stage for his development. Yet first-team minutes have proven elusive, with competition in midfield particularly fierce. Aware that stagnation could stall his progression, the player is weighing the merits of a temporary move away from Europe against the allure of staying put and fighting for a starting role.

The report notes precedents set by Gabri Veiga and Aymeric Laporte, both of whom spent brief spells in Saudi Arabia before returning to top-tier European football. That pathway could offer Casado a lucrative detour without permanently severing ties with the continent’s elite clubs. Still, sources close to the midfielder stress that his priority remains sporting success: he wants to join a team capable of competing for titles, a criterion that will heavily influence any final decision.

Barcelona, for their part, will not stand in Casado’s way if an irresistible offer lands on the table, but they will also respect the player’s wishes. With the summer window looming, all parties recognise that a resolution must balance financial pragmatism, sporting ambition, and personal aspirations. Whether Casado packs his bags for the Middle East or doubles down on his Barcelona dream is the question set to dominate headlines in the coming weeks.