Barcelona star Marc Casado linked with ‘round trip’ move to Saudi Arabia

Barcelona’s 22-year-old midfielder Marc Casado has emerged as an unlikely target for Saudi Arabian clubs, according to a report in Diario AS, with the player weighing up a short-term switch to the Middle East rather than a permanent departure from Camp Nou.

Sources close to the situation indicate Casado recognises the fierce competition for minutes in Barça’s engine room: Gavi is nearing a return from injury and academy product Tommy Marques is also pushing for selection. Aware that regular first-team football may be hard to come by, the Catalan is open to “trying a new experience” should the right opportunity arise.

Crucially, any Saudi deal would be structured as a brief sojourn rather than a long-term commitment. The report likens the potential transfer to the trajectories of Gabri Veiga and Aymeric Laporte: Veiga spent a single season at Al-Ahly before re-entering the European market with Porto, while Laporte enjoyed a lucrative stint at Al-Nassr and subsequently re-joined Athletic Club. That template—high wages, minimal stay, swift return—appeals to Casado, who is said to be uninterested in severing ties with Europe indefinitely.

Despite the Pro League’s recent spending power, a move would still register as a shock. Casado has impressed when called upon this term and is under contract with the Blaugrana until 2026. Yet with squad places at a premium and Saudi sides willing to table eye-catching salaries, the midfielder faces a pivotal career decision.

Barcelona’s hierarchy must now decide whether to green-light a temporary exit or insist the player fights for his spot. Either way, the coming weeks could shape Casado’s future at the club.