Barcelona determined to keep 21-year-old midfielder amid Arsenal interest – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona started the current season with a very thin midfield, as in addition to the departures of players like Ilkay Gundogan and Oriol Romeu, other players like Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Fermin Lopez were injured, and the new signing Dani Olmo also missed some games before his registration with La Liga was addressed.

In such a context, Hansi Flick decided to bet on the youth talents available to him. First, it was Marc Bernal who made a place for himself in the Blaugrana first team. However, he also tore his ACL only a few games into the season.

After his injury, Flick decided to bet on another young midfielder, Marc Casado. This decision also turned out to be a good one, as the La Masia graduate remained a clear starter for most part of the season, and clearly showcased his talents, especially his tactical intelligence and ability to distribute the ball from the base of the midfield.

Although the 21-year-old Spaniard is no longer a fixed starter for Flick, as Frenkie de Jong is now seemingly ahead of him in Flick’s plans, he is still a very important part of the Blaugrana team.

Meanwhile, his performances have also not gone unnoticed by other big clubs across Europe, as Fichajes reports that the Premier League team Arsenal is one of the teams that is closely monitoring his development.

The Gunners’ head coach, Mikel Arteta, sees Casado as an ideal reinforcement for his midfield, as he believes his ability to win balls in the midfield will bring more balance to his team that focuses on possession and control of the ball.

However, Barcelona themselves are not looking to part ways with such a promising talent, especially as their Sporting Department sees Casado as a player both for the present and the future. Thus, they will reject any advances, either from Arsenal or another side, for his signing.