Barcelona turned down chance to sign Europa League winner for €30 million last summer | OneFootball

Journalist Santi Ovalle has confirmed that Atalanta’s midfielder Ederson was offered to Barcelona last summer for €30 million, but the club declined due to financial constraints.

“Ederson was offered to Barça last summer for €30 million and ended up signing Oriol Romeu,” said the reporter as quoted by Carrusel Deportivo.

Barcelona’s need for a reliable central midfielder has become urgent after their experiment with Oriol Romeu did not pan out as hoped.

Throughout this season, the team has been linked to several high-profile players like Joshua Kimmich and Martin Zubimendi, but no substantial progress has been made in acquiring them.

In an interesting turn of events, Barcelona are on the verge of signing Guido Rodriguez from Real Betis, but they are still in the market for another top-tier midfielder.

Ederson is out of budget for Barcelona

Ederson, who recently won the Europa League, had a stellar season with Atalanta. He scored seven goals and provided one assist in 52 matches across all competitions.

Barcelona cannot afford to sign Ederon. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

However, the Brazilian’s asking price has now risen to €50 million, which is beyond what Barcelona can afford at the moment.

This price tag makes it difficult for the Blaugrana to compete, while Premier League clubs seem more willing to meet Atalanta’s valuation.

Deco is a fan of Ederson

For now, the signing of Rodriguez is nearly finalised, and the Barcelona management, led by Deco, will continue their efforts to bring in another top central midfielder. However, any further moves will depend on improving their financial situation.

Interestingly, several Premier League clubs are keeping an eye on Ederson, believing that his style of play would fit perfectly in their league.

It is suggested that Deco is a fan of Ederson and thinks Barcelona need a midfielder who can provide balance and cohesion to the team’s core.

This season, the team only partially achieved this balance when Andreas Christensen was moved to a more advanced position, which is why strengthening this area is of utmost importance.