Two pros and two cons of Barcelona parting ways with La Masia midfielder this summer | OneFootball

With less than two weeks left before the transfer window closes, the future of Marc Casado remains uncertain.

The young midfielder has been clear about his desire to stay at Barcelona, although despite his wish to continue at the Camp Nou, the situation is far from settled.

Several clubs have shown serious interest in the player, and a late twist in the window cannot be ruled out.

In recent days, proposals have arrived from Italian side Como, Premier League outfit Wolves, and La Liga rivals Real Betis.

Wolves, in particular, are said to be willing to pay as much as €30 million for a player who is unlikely to see much action this season.

Casado, for now, is holding firm on his stance not to leave. But he has already been warned that opportunities will be limited under Hansi Flick. With this in mind, it is worth looking at the pros and cons of a possible exit for the midfielder.

Pros

Help with FFP and registration issues

One of the biggest challenges Barcelona face this summer has been complying with La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules.

Casado’s exit could help Barcelona financially. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Player registration has been a headache yet again, and although the club has managed to register Joan Garcia and Marcus Rashford, there are still names waiting on the list.

Gerard Martin, Wojciech Szczesny and Roony Bardghji remain pending, and freeing up financial space is the only way to get them officially registered.

While it is unclear how much selling Casado would directly help, every euro counts. A €30 million injection could ease the burden and allow Barcelona to move faster in registering the squad.

Possible funds for defensive reinforcement

There is also the matter of defensive reinforcements. With Inigo Martinez leaving, Barcelona are short in defence.

Hansi Flick is keen to add another option, but the lack of funds has closed that door so far. Money from Casado’s potential transfer could provide an opportunity to explore the market.

The figure might not be enough to land a world-class defender, but it could at least strengthen the backline with a reliable addition.

Cons

Another La Masia talent lost

On the other hand, letting Casado go comes with significant risks. Barcelona have already lost several La Masia graduates this summer.

Barcelona could lose another La Masia talent. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Arnau Pradas, Hugo Alba, Pau Prim, Noah Darvich and Sergi Dominguez have all departed, while Dani Rodriguez is close to sealing a move to Celta Vigo.

The club has included a buyback clause in Rodriguez’s deal, but the sheer number of academy exits is worrying. For a club that prides itself on developing its own stars, losing another homegrown talent would hurt its long-term project.

Risky business

The other concern is squad balance. Casado is currently the only natural defensive midfielder available.

Marc Bernal is expected to return soon, but after being sidelined for almost a year, he will need time to regain fitness and rhythm. Frenkie de Jong’s future also remains uncertain, with no contract extension signed yet.

Selling Casado now could leave Flick with a gap in a crucial role, something that may become a major problem later in the season.

The competition for places in midfield is fierce, but depth is just as important. Losing the only specialist defensive midfielder in the squad could be a mistake Barcelona might regret.