Barcelona will reportedly part with up to five players in the summer. The Catalans want to rebuild their squad and are reportedly willing to let go of some of their starting eleven.
According to a report in Fichajes, Joao Felix, Joao Cancelo, Ronaldo Araujo, Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha could leave the club this summer. The Portuguese duo are on loan for the season and plans to keep them beyond the summer have been scrapped. The latter three have attracted interest from various quarters and Barcelona believe this could be the ideal time to let them go.
Felix was signed with a lot of promise, but the striker failed to convince. Atletico Madrid have lowered their asking price to 60 million euros, but Blaugrana are not ready to sign him.
Cancelo has performed well under Xavi, but Laporta and Deco do not see him as a player who will be needed from next season and have decided to let him return to Manchester City when his loan expires at the end of the month.
Araujo has attracted interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich. All three clubs are willing to pay over €80 million to sign him and Barcelona could use his sale to ease its financial crisis.
Bayern Munich is also interested in De Jong and could sell him. Manchester United and Arsenal are also said to be interested in the Dutchman, but a price tag has not yet been mentioned.
Raphinha has interest from the Saudi Pro League, and they are willing to pay €100 million to sign the winger. Blaugrana see this as their last chance to make money from the Brazilian and are urging him to consider the move.
Barcelona initially wanted to keep Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo
The Barcelona board were impressed by Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo at the start of the season and were keen to keep both beyond the 2023/24 season. Joao Laporta and Deco admitted they were working on a plan to keep the two Portuguese stars.
Laporta spoke about the duo earlier this season and explained that the plan was to keep them. He told Mundo Deportivo:
“I think they will continue. I hope Atletico Madrid have no objection to Joao Felix staying with us and I think City will have no objection either. We have an agent there, Jorge Mendes, who is dealing with the issue and he knows our intention to continue with the players. What I cannot tell you now, because it depends a lot on the amounts, is whether we will sign them or extend the loan. It will certainly be an extension of the transfer, the price is already set.”
Barcelona have sacked Xavi just weeks after convincing him to reconsider his resignation. The Catalans are now reportedly looking to appoint Hansi Flick as his successor.
