FC Barcelona is experiencing a brilliant moment collectively. Copa champion and Champions League semifinalist, Flick's team has managed to reinvent itself with young talent. But not everyone has come out strengthened in this process.
One of the heavyweights of recent years has lost his place. He is no longer a regular starter, nor a priority for the coaching staff. His situation has changed radically.
Three Major Clubs, Very Attentive
The defender in question has seen how two young homegrown players have surpassed him. Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez have consistently convinced Flick. Their speed, clean play, and tactical maturity weigh more than experience.
The German coach is clear: he wants center-backs with good spatial awareness and the ability to build from the back. The one affected by this new approach is no longer in the main plans.
This drop in the rotation has caught the attention of several European clubs. Juventus, Chelsea, and a German giant have expressed their interest to the player's camp. They all value his physique, competitive character, and leadership in defense.
Additionally, his contract includes a special clause: during the first days of July, his price will be 65 million. A very attractive market value for an international defender with Champions League experience.
The Club Is Already Listening to Offers
At Barça, there is no urgency to sell. But they know this operation can ease the 'fair play' and allow for new signings. In other words, his departure would open up room to strengthen other key positions.
The final decision will be made by the coach, together with Deco. But the current scenario points to a significant sale before the preseason starts.
The player has accepted that his stage may be coming to an end. Although he hasn't publicly requested to leave, his camp is already quietly working on his new destination. Negotiations have been conducted discreetly.
According to close sources, there is already a closed agreement with one of the big favorites. The club that will sign him has been working on his incorporation as a strategic signing for weeks. They just need to finalize the formula with Barça.
An Exchange on the Table
This team not only wants to sign him but is also considering including a player in the operation. Barça sees it favorably, as it is a position that needs reinforcement. The left flank has been an emergency area all season.
The name that has been mentioned internally is a full-back with a lot of potential but without a fixed place in his current squad. His offensive profile is very appealing to Flick and could serve as a bargaining chip.
The defender, who arrived in 2018, has been a key figure in the locker room. But the project has changed. His place has gradually faded away.
His professionalism has never been in doubt. But in Flick's Barça, his role is irrelevant. Now, his departure is one step away from becoming a reality.
The player in question is Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayan center-back has already reached a personal agreement with Bayern Munich, which could offer Adam Aznou as part of the deal.
Barça knows it. They are already seriously considering a departure that just a year ago would have seemed unthinkable.