Atletico Madrid have set sights on 21-year-old Barcelona midfielder – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have almost had a tradition in recent seasons of La Masia graduates making a name for themselves during pre-season and breaking into the first team. The likes of Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Marc Bernal, and Marc Casado have all made a name for themselves in this manner.

Hansi Flick’s first pre-season ahead of the 2024/25 season saw the emergence of Bernal and Casado. The duo emerged as the German coach’s saviour, which allowed Barcelona to go into the season without signing a new defensive midfielder.

Eventually, just a couple of games into the season, Bernal tore his ACL against Rayo Vallecano and was ruled out for the rest of the season. Casado, on the other hand, grew from strength to strength to become one of Hansi Flick’s first names on the team sheet in the first half of the season.

Atletico Madrid want to sign Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado

Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images

However, the Spaniard was displaced by Frenkie de Jong, who became the starting pivot since the start of 2025. Now, as per Fichajes, Atletico Madrid want to sign Marc Casado, with Diego Simeone keen to add him to the squad.

Atletico Madrid see Casado as an option to not only bolster the midfield but also the chance to add a very versatile player. The 21-year-old is unlikely to be a starter for Hansi Flick this season, with Frenkie and Bernal also available for the same position.

The problem at Barcelona is that among the two defensive midfield positions, one of them is almost earmarked for Pedri. Unless Flick wants to rest the Canary Islander, the rest of the midfielders are competing for just one spot.

Casado remains valuable

Marc Casado remains valuable to Hansi Flick. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

However, even with the immense competition, Casado still continues to be a valuable presence. He is excellent at breaking up the game, and defensively, he is one of the most aware players in the squad. His importance off the bench cannot be understated.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for the 21-year-old going forward. It would be a surprise to see Barcelona sell him this summer, no matter the offer, and let’s wait and see how things play out going forward.