Ligue 1 star no longer an option as Barcelona end transfer interest | OneFootball

According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have firmly closed the door on the signing of AS Monaco right-back Vanderson, despite the player never having ruled out a summer exit.

While Barça had previously identified the Brazilian as a long-term solution for the right side of defence, the club’s sporting priorities have changed significantly in recent months.

It must be noted that earlier this year, reinforcing the right-back position was one of the Catalan side’s top objectives. However, the final stretch of last season forced a tactical shift in thinking.

Injuries and squad limitations prompted manager Hansi Flick to retrain centre-back Eric Garcia as a right-back, and the experiment worked well enough to make the club reassess its transfer strategy. As a result, right-back is no longer a pressing concern.

Monaco’s stance and Premier League interest

Vanderson, still just 23 and under contract at Monaco until 2028, remains highly rated across Europe, and the Ligue 1 side has always considered him non-transferable.

Vanderson will not join Barcelona. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Though Barcelona tracked him regularly, Monaco were never particularly concerned about Barça’s approach, instead viewing Premier League clubs as the more likely threat.

Indeed, Monaco’s stance, coupled with Barcelona’s financial limitations, made the deal increasingly unrealistic. Even for now, the Ligue 1 side has no intention of negotiating, especially when better-funded English clubs are also circling.

Internal alternatives and a focus

Barcelona’s revised approach is built on faith in internal solutions. With Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, and Hector Fort, Flick is convinced there are sufficient options to cover the right-back role without making an expensive signing.

The fact that Garcia adapted well to the role late last season has also influenced the club’s decision to drop out of the Vanderson race.

Vanderson, for his part, was motivated by the Barcelona interest and remained open to a move, but he now understands that the transfer will not materialise, at least not under the current circumstances.