Before Xavi Hernandez was shown the door, Real Betis’ Guido Rodriguez was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona.
Considering the Catalan giants desperately required a defensive midfielder, Rodriguez was seen as a feasible solution to beef up the squad’s depth.
However, despite having a verbal agreement with the midfielder, who was set to arrive as a free agent, the move appeared to have been deadlocked.
Guido Rodriguez will not join Barcelona
Indeed, according to Germán García Grova, the agreement to bring Guido Rodriguez to Barcelona has ultimately collapsed.
The contract, which had been signed, was valid until the end of May. Even so, the financial fair play complications and the arrival of Hansi Flick influenced the decision, causing the deal to fall through.
Contrary to Xavi, who had previously advocated for the Argentine’s signing on multiple occasions, Flick has other priorities in mind for the pivot position.
Not coming to Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Despite this setback, Real Betis keeps their renewal offer for Rodriguez on the table, with the midfielder’s contract set to expire on June 30.
Who else is on Barcelona’s radar?
Joshua Kimmich, one of Hansi Flick’s trusted players during his tenure at Bayern Munich, is viewed as a cost-effective option for Barcelona.
With Kimmich’s contract set to expire in 2025 and Bayern Munich reportedly open to hearing offers for the German, he presents an attractive opportunity for the Catalan club.
Moreover, Valencia’s Javi Guerra has been gaining interest from Barça, whose price tag will reportedly not exceed €25 million.
While Barcelona’s financial situation makes their recruitment more tricky, Amadou Onana and Bruno Guimaraes are also targeted by the Blaugranes, with each of their clubs potentially compelled to sell them for economic reasons.
