Casado edging closer to the exit door at Barcelona

Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado is weighing up a summer departure after finding first-team opportunities increasingly scarce at Camp Nou, according to multiple sources close to the situation.

Coach Hansi Flick left the 20-year-old out of the squad for Sunday’s 5-1 victory over Villarreal, citing a minor knock, but also underlined that teenage prospect Marc Bernal has moved ahead of Casado in the midfield hierarchy. The public demotion follows a season in which Casado has started only sporadically, prompting the player himself to admit in December that he is “not happy” with his limited minutes.

Spanish journalist Jorge Picón told El Desmarque that the situation has now reached a tipping point. “What I’m hearing from several sources is that Marc Casadó is considering leaving FC Barcelona,” Picón said. “Several clubs are already interested; I don’t know if Atlético de Madrid, as I’ve read in several places, could be one of the possible destinations.”

Atletico reportedly explored a winter move for the La Masia graduate, and while no formal approach materialised, the fresh interest suggests Casado’s representatives are already sounding out alternatives. Picón added that the midfielder “is starting to see his place at Barcelona becoming increasingly limited” and that any exit would most likely occur in the upcoming summer window “provided there is a good offer.”

Barcelona, for their part, are not expected to stand in the way. “I think Barça wouldn’t put up too many problems and would let Marc leave the team and find a place at another club,” Picón concluded.

With pre-season planning set to begin shortly after the European Championship, Casado’s camp is expected to accelerate talks in the coming weeks as he searches for the regular senior football that has eluded him in Catalonia.