Barcelona faces the final stretch of the transfer window with the feeling that it has let a talent slip away. The board had seriously considered the possibility of bringing back a player who left too soon. His name has always been on the table and his future could have changed the club's sporting plans.
This footballer became one of the most closely watched pieces in Europe due to his growth in the Bundesliga. His competitive maturity and ability to make a difference in various positions made him a top priority target. From Camp Nou, the option to carry out the operation was considered, but the price complicated everything.
Rumors multiplied during the summer, pointing to several teams interested in adding him to their sporting projects. In the Premier League, very serious offers appeared and the player was willing to listen to attractive proposals. All of this coincided with the discreet contacts that Laporta and Deco tried to keep to gauge a possible return.
Barça's interest was real
At Can Barça, there was excitement about seeing him share a locker room with young players like Lamine Yamal or Pau Cubarsí. The return of a talent with Barça DNA would mean strengthening the football identity and improving the midfield's projection. However, the club's finances were not in a position to take on such a large investment.
The situation became more complicated because the German club, owner of his rights, never considered letting him go for a low price. The starting price was around €90 million (90 millones de euros), a figure that was impossible for Barça to afford at this time. Although there was desire, the financial fair play and the need to register new players prevented everything.
Hansi Flick had given the green light to the operation if enough salary space could be found in the summer. The coach valued his versatility, his personality, and the maturity with which he was already performing on major European stages. He even admitted privately that he was one of the signings he most wanted for the future.
Premier League moves ahead
The sporting management, aware that it could not reach those figures, decided to wait for another transfer window. The hope was that the player would keep his patience and could wait for the opportunity to return to Barcelona. Reality was very different, as the major European clubs quickly made their moves.
In London, there had been maximum interest for months and the opportunity appeared at just the right moment. Aware that the player wanted to make the leap to a more demanding league, they accelerated their moves quickly. The offer was clear and direct: close to €90 million (90 millones de euros) plus an immediate star salary.
The German club accepted without much hesitation, securing a record financial profit and repeating its usual business model. Buy cheap, develop in the Bundesliga, and sell at a premium: the formula once again delivered extraordinary results.
The final outcome
In Barcelona, the news was not well received, especially inside the locker room. Several players kept close contact with him and dreamed of meeting again at Camp Nou. His signing by another club also definitively closes the door to any return in the near future.
The Barça fans have shown resignation after learning that another of its gems trained at La Masia is leaving. On social media, many recalled that he was one of the greatest promises in European soccer. Now, the wound grows deeper because his destination will be one of the club's greatest sporting rivals.
The footballer in question is Xavi Simons, a Barça youth product who left the club too young. After shining at PSG and establishing himself at Leipzig, he has now made the definitive leap to the Premier League. Chelsea has secured his signature, making him one of the most powerful signings of the summer.
For Barça, it means losing a strategic opportunity and seeing how a direct rival keeps its talent. Laporta and Deco seriously considered his return, but the economic context ultimately stopped any real negotiation option. Meanwhile, Simons begins a new adventure in London, just when he was most needed in Barcelona.