In recent years, Atletico Madrid has acquired several players from Barcelona, and they are now eyeing another transfer in 2026. Recently, they have been linked with a potential summer move for Marc Bernal. Just last week, they met with the representatives of the promising young midfielder.
Bernal faced challenges over the past 12 to 15 months after suffering an ACL tear in September 2024. Upon his return to the field a year later, he struggled to secure a spot in the regular starting lineup. This situation led to some concerns regarding his future at Spotify Camp Nou, which sparked Atletico’s interest in him.
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Recently, Bernal has been an integral part of Hansi Flick’s plans, which ruled out any possibility of a transfer in January. According to MD, Atletico was one of the clubs that inquired about the 18-year-old during the winter transfer window, but they were firmly informed that Barcelona would not entertain any offers.
Following that rejection, Atletico chose to withdraw their interest in Bernal, realizing that securing his transfer from Barcelona was unfeasible. They have since redirected their focus towards other targets, including Atalanta’s Ederson dos Santos.
Agent Meeting Not Related to Bernal
The meeting last week between Atletico’s sporting director and agent Raúl Verdú, who represents Bernal, was unrelated to the Barcelona midfielder, as the report indicates. The discussions revolved around several other players, and Bernal was not a topic of conversation.
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It comes as no surprise that Barcelona has no intentions of parting ways with Bernal. He has consistently proven himself to be a talented player while wearing the Blaugrana jersey, making Atletico’s attempts to persuade him to join the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in 2026 a futile endeavor.