Barcelona have reopened talks with Real Betis over a permanent deal for centre-back Natan, 25, as Ronald Araujo’s loan move to Liverpool creates a defensive vacancy at Camp Nou. The Brazilian, currently at the Spanish club, has been internally discussed by the Catalan side before but negotiations have now accelerated following the Uruguay international’s departure.
Why Araujo’s exit has revived Barcelona’s interest in Natan
Araujo’s switch to Anfield on loan triggered Barcelona’s reassessment of their backline depth. With Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin pencilled in as first-choice centre-backs under Hansi Flick, the club faces a choice between relying on youth prospects or recruiting established cover. Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen remain available as backup options, while academy graduate Alvaro Cortes could emerge as a first-team regular this season.
That calculus has made Natan, a left-footed defender with European experience, relevant again. His agent Andre Cury had previously offered the former Flamengo player to Barcelona following strong performances in La Liga, but the defender’s profile now addresses a specific need rather than representing speculative interest.
Natan’s profile and Barcelona’s defensive structure
Barcelona value left-footed centre-backs when constructing their defensive setup, and Natan’s technical attributes align with that requirement. The 25-year-old brings La Liga familiarity and the ability to step into Flick’s system without extensive adaptation time. His European pedigree separates him from purely academy-based alternatives currently available to the club.
However, defensive recruitment remains secondary to Barcelona’s window priorities, as reported by TNT Sports Brasil. The club continues pursuing a new number nine—with Julian Alvarez among targets—and reinforcing midfield through Rodri, the Manchester City and Spain playmaker. Natan remains a name to monitor rather than an imminent announcement, dependent on how quickly Barcelona resolve attacking and midfield targets first.
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