Barcelona reportedly declined the opportunity to sign one of Europe’s top midfielders, Kevin De Bruyne, as they prioritized pursuing Liverpool winger Luis Diaz instead. According to SPORT, De Bruyne himself expressed interest in joining Barcelona after confirming his departure from Manchester City at the end of the season. However, Barcelona’s management chose not to enter negotiations, focusing their efforts on acquiring Diaz to strengthen their wing attack and pursue a youth-focused strategy.
Kevin De Bruyne is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, having helped Manchester City win six Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy. Despite his success, he sought a new challenge after many years at City. Unable to secure a deal with Barcelona, De Bruyne subsequently signed a two-year contract with Napoli, including an option for a one-year extension.
Luis Diaz, the Colombian winger, has two years remaining on his Liverpool contract and has attracted interest from several major clubs, including Barcelona. Last season, Diaz impressed with 17 goals and 8 assists in 50 appearances, becoming a key player for Liverpool. However, Barcelona faces significant financial constraints; Liverpool reportedly demands around €80 million for Diaz, a sum potentially beyond Barcelona’s current budget. This financial reality forces Barcelona to carefully balance their sporting ambitions with economic limitations as they rebuild for the upcoming season. Their preference for a young, fast, and developing attacking star like Diaz reflects the club’s strategic direction.
Regarding Barcelona’s midfield situation, Frenkie de Jong has been a central figure. Under coach Hansi Flick, de Jong has undergone a transformation, forming a strong partnership with Pedri and becoming indispensable. The club is eager to renew de Jong’s contract, aiming to finalize it before June 30, 2025. De Jong himself has expressed a desire to stay and has taken steps to expedite contract renewal by changing his agent due to previous negotiation issues. The renewal will likely involve a salary adjustment to align with Barcelona’s financial reality.
Barcelona has ruled out signing another midfielder this summer, partly due to confidence in de Jong’s renewal and the return of Marc Bernal from injury, who will bolster the midfield. Alongside de Jong and Bernal, young midfielder Marc Casadó is also part of the squad. While Pedri lacks a natural replacement, players like de Jong, Gavi, and Dani Olmo can cover midfield roles if needed. This midfield stability reduces the club’s need to recruit additional midfielders during the transfer window.
In summary, Barcelona’s refusal to pursue Kevin De Bruyne in favor of targeting Luis Diaz reflects a strategic choice to prioritize youth and wing attack enhancement amid financial constraints. Meanwhile, the club is focused on securing Frenkie de Jong’s contract renewal and relying on existing and returning midfield talents rather than bringing in new midfield signings.