Marc Casado, the Barcelona midfielder, emerged as one of last season’s surprises, stepping up in a midfield plagued by injuries under Hansi Flick. However, the 22-year-old former captain of Barca Atletic has found this season more challenging, as he has fallen out of favor.
Casado’s situation has been exacerbated by injuries to key players like Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, and Marc Bernal. According to Diario AS, at this point last season, Casado had already logged over 2,000 minutes, but this year he’s only played 1,092 minutes. Consequently, he is contemplating a potential move away from the club this summer. While Flick has expressed a desire to keep him, Casado hesitated to leave in both the summer and January. Although the young Spain international intends to prioritize Barcelona, he is mindful that his playing time is not guaranteed going forward.
Casado Open to Saudi Arabia Move This Summer
The Madrid-based newspaper reports that Casado may also consider a move to Saudi Arabia. After hiring agent Jorge Mendes earlier this season, who has strong connections in the region, Casado could follow in the footsteps of fellow Spaniards Aymeric Laporte and Gabri Veiga, who spent some time in the Middle East earning higher wages before returning to European football.
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This news would undoubtedly please Barcelona. Casado had generated interest from Premier League clubs last summer, with the Catalan club setting his asking price at €30 million. However, their best chance of receiving a substantial fee seems to lie with Saudi Arabia.
Casado Aware of Increasing Competition
One of Casado’s main concerns is that not only is he currently lacking playing time, but other players are also likely to step up. Gavi is still recovering from injury, and Flick has been providing Marc Bernal with more opportunities. Additionally, La Masia midfielder Tommy Marques made his debut last Saturday.