There has been a plot twist in the future of Barcelona star Marc Casadó. Hansi Flick is currently assessing how to fine-tune his back-to-back LaLiga title-winning squad to mount another successful title defence and a longer run in the Champions League.
The Blaugrana have already added Anthony Gordon, and it's believed a striker is the next priority, with more additions likely to come after that. One potential later addition is said to be Manchester City star Bernardo Silva, who is available on a free, but it's a deal Barca will revisit later in the summer if he is still available.
The wait is due to their concentration on signing a striker, but some believe youngster Casadó has something to do with it.
Plot twist in the Casadó case
Recent reports have suggested that Casadó is the man standing in the way of Silva signing for Barcelona, with Flick reported wanting to offload the 22-year-old before bringing in a new midfielder, albeit a more attack-minded one.
But it seems as though the Silva deal will be on hold anyway while Barca sign a striker, and indeed while the veteran represents Portugal at the World Cup this summer.
But there is action on the Casadó front, and according to Diario AS, it does not involve a permanent move away from the club, as has been suggested elsewhere. The La Masia product was linked with a move to Monaco recently.
According to the report, Casadó is indeed unhappy with his playing time having only started 10 LaLiga games in the season just gone. He is also said to feel as though his opportunities will continue to be limited in the coming season, and reports of a Silva arrival only further highlight that concern, even if the two players are, stricly speaking, in different positions.
That has led the youngster to open his eyes to a move away from Camp Nou, but he is only said to want a loan move. Still only 22, Casadó believes there is still a chance of becoming a regular starter at his boyhood club in the future, and he doesn't want to give up on that dream.
That means a loan deal is the likely outcome, and he shouldn't have too much trouble finding a Champions League club to continue his development with. What we do know is that a move does not appear to be close, but it doesn't appear to have any bearing on when or whether Silva joins the club this summer.
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