Barcelona midfielder Marc Casadó has rejected a lucrative Saudi Arabia offer worth close to €40 million, choosing instead to pursue a European transfer despite the financial windfall he would have gained. The La Masia product’s reluctance to move to Al Hilal has forced his agent Jorge Mendes to accelerate efforts to find a suitable club within Europe, with Benfica and Nottingham Forest emerging as the leading candidates.
Why Casadó chose Europe over Saudi riches
The 21-year-old’s decision represents a significant complication for Barcelona’s financial planning. Al Hilal and Al Ahli had both expressed interest in securing the midfielder’s services, with negotiations potentially pushing the fee beyond the €40 million mark—a substantial return on a player developed through the club’s academy system.
Barcelona’s valuation sits above €30 million for a permanent transfer. Yet Casadó has prioritised career progression within Europe’s top leagues over immediate financial gain, leaving the Spanish club dependent on Mendes to broker a deal that satisfies all parties before the transfer window closes.
Benfica and Forest circling for signature
Benfica have emerged as active suitors, with Portuguese reports confirming the Lisbon club views Casadó as a solution to their midfield shortage. Mendes is actively exploring that possibility, though Casadó was not the club’s primary target entering this window.
Nottingham Forest maintain a separate line of interest. The Premier League outfit held preliminary discussions with Barcelona earlier in the summer, though the fees tabled fell short of the Catalan side’s expectations. With Casadó’s status unresolved, both clubs retain room to reopen negotiations.
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AC Milan received consideration from Mendes’ camp but have declined to pursue the opportunity at this stage of the summer market.
Three-way impasse tests agent’s negotiating hand
The standoff hinges on competing priorities: Barcelona demand a permanent sale at a price reflecting the midfielder’s potential; Casadó seeks a project matching his ambitions as a regular starter in competitive European football; and potential suitors face constraints on spending power or strategic fit.
Mendes must reconcile these positions before the window narrows further. With Saudi clubs ruled out by the player’s own preference and Milan stepping back, the negotiator’s options remain limited to a shortlist where either Benfica or Nottingham Forest must be persuaded to meet Barcelona’s valuation while offering Casadó the sporting guarantee he demands.
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