Barcelona faces decisive weeks in the market with an unexpected financial margin after several failed moves. Nico Williams's absence and Marcus Rashford's loan have left room for an extra signing. In this context, Deco has a free hand to activate a clause that expires very soon.
Hansi Flick has prioritized bringing in a specialist for one of the squad's most weakened positions. After evaluating several profiles, the coaching staff has closed ranks around a name that convinces everyone. Its signing is considered strategic, due to potential, physicality, and price.
In total, Barça will pay €25 million ($27.2 million), a figure set in the contract thanks to a current clause. However, there is urgency: that clause is only valid until July 31. For this reason, the club has decided to execute it as soon as possible and secure the player.
Strong competition: Atlético wanted him too
The main rival in this operation has been Atlético de Madrid, which had shown real interest in the footballer. Diego Simeone was desperately asking for a reinforcement with that profile: powerful, fast, and able to dominate the right flank. The rojiblanca sporting management had advanced negotiations, but Barça has reacted in time.
In recent weeks, the player's entourage had intensified contacts with Atleti. There was even talk of a possible parallel operation. But in the end, the blaugrana side has sped up and has convinced the footballer with a more ambitious sporting project.
At Metropolitano, Barça's move has not gone down well. They believed they had the advantage, and now they see how a priority signing slips away completely. To make matters worse, it happens to strengthen a direct rival in the fight for titles.
Strengthening a key area
Hansi Flick wants the right back to become a strength again and not a weak point. Koundé has delivered, but he suffers from obvious fatigue, and he is not a pure specialist in that position. Héctor Fort needs time, and the rest of the alternatives do not convince the coaching staff.
For this reason, they have decided to go for a different profile, with international experience and used to competing in big matches. A footballer who can bring balance to the system and offer depth in attack. All this, moreover, at a reasonable cost within the club's salary cap.
The sporting management believes that this operation covers several needs at once. It strengthens a weak position, relieves the starters' minutes load, and provides a real tactical alternative. The decision has already been made, and it has been communicated to the parties involved.
He's already blaugrana: Barça executes the clause
In the coming hours, Barça will formally execute the €25 million ($27.2 million) release clause. Everything is ready for the footballer to land in Barcelona and join Flick's orders as soon as he passes the medical examination. The operation has been valued as a unique opportunity for its quality-price ratio.
Although it is not a high-profile signing, it is exactly what the team needed to close its defense. A reliable, forceful player with plenty of experience on big stages. In addition, he already left his mark at Camp Nou when he eliminated Barça in Champions.
It is, none other than, Denzel Dumfries. The Dutchman leaves Inter to wear blaugrana and will officially be a new Barça player in the coming days. Atlético is left without its target... and Barça gets the best right back available.