One of the players who came close to leaving Barcelona in the last summer transfer window was Marc Casado. Several clubs showed interest in him, and at one point, it seemed possible that he might depart.
The club’s sporting management had considered some proposals, as in the case of Fermin Lopez. With many midfielders in the squad and the club’s financial situation in need of relief, a good sale would have been welcome.
As it would turn out, though, Casado never considered the possibility of an exit and ended up staying put at the club.
Now, MARCA has brought forward an extensive report detailing how things went down behind the scenes and how the La Masia shut the doors on a departure.
Casado stood firm
As per the report, no formal offer was made for Casado, but there were informal conversations. Clubs such as Real Betis and Wolves made it known to Barça that they would be willing to bid for him. The figures discussed ranged between €25-30 million.
However, for a transfer to happen, the player himself would have had to ask to leave. And, Casado never took that step.
The midfielder held a meeting with the coaching staff to decide whether he wanted to leave or stay at Barcelona. During that conversation, Casado was unequivocal: “I want to fight to get into the team.”
VALENCIA, SPAIN - AUGUST 23: Alejandro Balde and Marc Casado of FC Barcelona have their pre-match routine prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Levante UD and FC Barcelona at Ciutat de Valencia on August 23, 2025 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Casado was never in doubt about staying at Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Casado did not want to leave the club of his dreams, especially after the effort it took to reach the first team. In addition, his performances last season were top-notch, as he won the trust of Hansi Flick.
Faced with the player’s firm stance, the sporting management closed the matter.
Opportunity beckons
Casado knows he will not get the same minutes as last season, with Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and the returning Marc Bernal all vying for the two spots in midfield.
But he is ready to fight for his place in the team despite knowing the difficulty. This is exactly the attitude Flick wants from his players.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s match against Valencia, Casado has a chance to start. Frenkie de Jong returned from international duty with discomfort and is a serious doubt for the match. Gavi will also be unavailable and Bernal is not ready to start.
Furthermore, the situation with Gavi remains uncertain. Surgery is still a possibility, and if that happens, it would further open the door for Casado to enter the starting line-up regularly.