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Alex Collado has always been held in high regard within FC Barcelona. But the versatile midfielder has been unable to showcase his quality and potential at the highest level so far in his career.

After enduring a difficult 2021/22 campaign during which he was not registered for the first half and had a loan stint at Granada in the second, Collado was tipped to become a part of Xavi’s plans this season.

But after failing to make an impression in pre-season, he ended up at Elche in the summer transfer window of last year, signing for the minnows on a season-long loan deal.

And it is safe to say that the 24-year-old has not had the best time in his temporary spell at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.

Indeed, as we enter the final phase of the season, Collado has played just 14 times in all competitions for Elche, scoring and assisting one goal apiece. Although, it must be noted that he missed three months of action due to injury.

Nevertheless, as per Tomas Andreu of SPORT, Barcelona believe that Collado’s loan spell at Elche has not gone as well as they had hoped. And the La Liga leaders will again look to offload the midfielder in the upcoming summer, either on loan or permanently.

Collado will return to Barça at the end of the season and, in all likelihood, will do the pre-season with the first team under Xavi. However, the plan for the club is to offload him as they continue their efforts to cut costs and reduce their salary mass.

Collado’s contract with Barcelona expires in 2024, so they can get some transfer fee from his sale. It must be noted that 20% of that fee would go to Elche as part of the agreement that the Blaugrana reached with them last summer.

But the club are said to be open to a loan exit for the academy ace too, as long as they are lowering their wage bill. It remains to be seen how things pan out for Collado over the coming months.

Joao Cancelo has been closely associated with a move to Barcelona in recent months. The player was notably linked with a move to Camp Nou in January, but a move did not materialize.

A report from Diario SPORT has offered more details on Barcelona’s January pursuit of Cancelo, suggesting Pep Guardiola had vetoed the defender’s move to Camp Nou.

Although the report does concede the fact that Barcelona’s economic troubles had played a key role in the collapsed move, it claims Barça did reach an agreement with Manchester City over the Portuguese international.

However, Man City manager Guardiola vetoed the move. It was not the first time Guardiola has vetoed a Barcelona move of a Man City player, notably doing so in early 2022, when Raheem Sterling was subjected to a move to Camp Nou.

Guardiola’s opposition led to Sterling joining Chelsea. As for Cancelo, the right-back ended up joining Bayern Munich on a loan deal until the end of the season.

However, the Portuguese international has had a poor start to his life in Bavaria, falling behind in the pecking order. His struggles have led to links to a move elsewhere this summer, with Man City not too keen on retaining his services.

Real Madrid have been mooted as one of the potential destinations, but Barcelona, too, are not throwing in the towel in the pursuit of Cancelo, despite the opposition from Guardiola.

However, it must be noted that Barça have not yet made their minds up about signing a new right-back. They are going to make a definitive decision later in the summer, once they are done with their initial priorities, including the signing of Lionel Messi.

In a recent interview, David Villa has talked about the future of Lionel Messi, who has been heavily linked with a return to Camp Nou this summer. He talked about his experience playing alongside the Argentine during his time at Barcelona.

The Spanish footballing legend lauded Messi, citing him as a major reason behind his success at Barça. “I scored close to 50 goals in three years, almost all of them with a contribution from Leo Messi,” he said (h/t FCB World).

Villa played for Barcelona for three years between 2010 to 2013. During that time, he racked up 48 goals in 119 competitive appearances, playing a key role alongside Messi and others. He notably won the UEFA Champions League along with two La Liga titles.

When asked about Villa’s favourite goal for Barcelona, he said, “My goal in the 2011 Champions League final.” The forward had indeed scored the third goal in Barça 3-1 win over Man United, helping the Catalans build a formidable two-goal cushion.

Talking about his experience with Messi, Villa added, “When Leo Messi is by your side it’s a blessing, often when things get complicated he comes up with a solution.”

In the midst of the Negreira scandal that has harrowed Barcelona, David Villa was even asked whether or not he had gained the referee’s favour during his time at Camp Nou.

The forward rejected the claim, suggesting referee’s mistakes are a part and parcel of the game. “The truth is, no, neither in Barcelona nor in any other club. Referees make mistakes like us. Their task is difficult, which is to make decisions in a very short time,” he said.

Villa is currently trying his luck in sports management and is currently serving as the global sports director for Indian Super League outfit Odisha FC. He is also the owner of CF Benidorm, having acquired the club earlier in the year.

Barcelona will be aiming to end their three-match winless streak when they lock horns with La Liga’s most in-form team in Atletico Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday.

Barça have been held to back-to-back goalless draws in their last two matches by Girona and Getafe, before which they were beaten 4-0 by Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

So, it is imperative for Xavi Hernandez & co. to produce a strong reaction this weekend. Ahead of the match, the Barcelona manager has released the squad list that will be at his disposal to face Atletico Madrid.

And the big news is that midfield duo Frenkie de Jong and Pedri are back in the squad after one and two months out on the sidelines, respectively.

Ousmane Dembele has been back in training this week as well, but has not been called up by Xavi as of yet, with the club erring on the side of caution with the Frenchman.

Other notable absentees include Sergi Roberto, whose season might be over, and Andreas Christensen, who is expected to be back next week.

Another major news from the squad list is the inclusion of 15-year-old La Masia gem Lamine Yamal. Regarded as one of the most gifted young talents within the club, the forward has been training with the first team for a while now and has received his maiden call-up.

Yamal becomes the youngest player in history to be called up as part of the first-team squad.

Barcelona have taken a definitive decision on the future of loanee winger Ez Abde, according to SPORT. The 21-year-old forward, who is currently on loan at CA Osasuna, has been informed that he will be a part of the first team under Xavi Hernandez next season.

Abde signed for Barça in the summer of 2021. Brought in to reinforce the subsidiary team, the winger was given a senior breakthrough by Xavi owing to a number of injuries. The Moroccan made the most of the limited opportunities at the first-team level.

With new players being signed last summer, Abde was shipped off on loan to Osasuna to help him gain regular first-team action. And the move has worked well as the winger has emerged as an important player for the Pamplona-based outfit.

Abde’s development has not gone unnoticed at Barcelona either. And the Catalans have decided to incorporate him into the first-team plans for next season.

The report states that the Moroccan international will be the only Barça loanee to be included in Xavi’s plans for next season. The rest of the players out on loan, including young midfielder Nico Gonzalez, will have to find a new team for themselves.

It is true that Barcelona and Abde have been approached by several clubs, especially from the Premier League, over a possible transfer. And they would be willing to pay good money to sign the 21-year-old.

However, at this point, the decision has been made to not sell Abde as the Blaugrana believe he can provide that missing spark on the left flank within the team.

It was reported that Abde will stay at the club only if he is given an important role in the first team. Now, the club have made a decision to hand him opportunities in the pre-season and it is up to the player to make use of those and earn a spot in the side moving forward.

With there being a lot of rumours surrounding Barcelona and their pursuit of Mancheester City captain and icon Ilkay Gundogan, journalist Toni Juanmarti (h/t Reshad Rahman) has come up with an update on the German’s situation.

The 32-year-old midfielder is set to become a free agent this summer and as per the report, Barcelona president Joan Laporta is open to signing Gundogan now, after having initially not been in favour of the move.

It is claimed that the top officials at Barcelona now recognise the need for a new midfielder. Given the financial situation, they understand that Gundogan would be the ideal option due to his availability as a free agent in the summer, despite the fact that he turns 33 in October.

As per the report, Barcelona would be offering Gundogan a two-year contract with an option of an additional twelve months.

Providing further details of the potential contract offer, Juanmarti claims that the midfielder will be offered a reduced wage of €6 million per year (net) in his first season at Barça.

It would be quite a significant drop in salary compared to what he currently earns, but is willing to accept it. However, the former Borussia Dortmund ace will see an increase in his salary in his second year at the club.

Essentially, Gundogan would be deferring a part of his salary for next season in order to help the club with their Financial Fair Play woes, before earning it in his second year with the Blaugrana.

Barcelona are understood to be growing increasingly confident of signing Gundogan as they believe it will be easier to convince the player to part ways with his current club.

However, Gundogan is aware of all the noises surrounding Barça and their off-field issues. Hence, he wants to take a little more time and assess everything carefully before deciding to leave Manchester City.

The 32-year-old does not want to uproot his life just for two years even though moving to Barcelona is an incentive for him and his family. He wants stability, which he is getting in Manchester both personally and on a sporting level. So, he will take time and make a decision after assessing all factors.

With Barcelona scouring the market for a new striker ahead of the summer transfer window, a familiar name in the form of Chelsea outcast Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been doing the rounds quite a bit of late.

The 33-year-old spent the second half of the last season at Barcelona and played an important role in the team’s resurgent run under Xavi Hernandez. However, the club’s financial situation forced them to sell him to Chelsea last summer for a fee of €12 million.

Aubameyang has endured a torrid time back in London and has been pushing for a potential return to Barça since the January transfer window. A move back then did not materialise as RFEF rules prevented the transfer.

Heading into the summer, though, Aubameyang is once again being looked at as a serious possibility by Barcelona, reports SPORT.

Vitor Roque remains the top priority to reinforce the frontline at Camp Nou. However, his asking price is on a constant rise amid interest from the Premier League, forcing Barça to look at other options, considering their Financial Fair Play issues.

Aubameyang, to that end, is seen as a good, stop-gap solution for a year by the La Liga leaders. The striker has already proven himself at Barcelona and is a popular figure in the dressing room while he is also said to have a good relationship with Xavi.

But, for Aubameyang to secure a return to Barcelona, the club have told his entourage that he will need to make financial sacrifices.

Indeed, it is being claimed that the former Arsenal captain will have to reduce his current wages by almost 50% if he wishes to join the Blaugrana. And, Aubameyang is understood to be willing to accept such a big salary reduction.

But the main point remains that Barcelona will consider signing their former striker only for zero cost – either on loan or if he arrives with a letter of freedom.

However, Chelsea are hoping to receive some fee for their out-of-favour striker, and clubs like Inter Milan are willing to pay.

As things stand, Roque remains Barcelona’s priority target. But if his signing becomes difficult, Aubameyang’s chances of a possible return will increase. However, it will not be straightforward and there will be some major hurdles along the way.

Fabricio Diaz has emerged as the latest option for Barcelona as they scour the market for a new midfielder.

The club are leading the chase to sign Ilkay Gundogan, but they are increasingly entertaining the prospect of signing the Uruguayan midfielder, who currently plies his trade for Liverpool Montevideo.

According to Diario SPORT, Barcelona are convinced about Diaz being a perfect fit in midfield. They want to utilise his qualities in the pivot position, possibly alongside the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Pedri.

This comes against the backdrop of Barça reportedly meeting the agent of Diaz today. It appears the player is expected to leave Uruguay after the U-20 World Cup, putting Barça on red alert.

The report suggests the Liverpool Montevideo midfielder could be available for a fee of just €6 million. It could prove to be a real bargain as the youngster has shown immense qualities in South America. His technical qualities, coupled with his proactive style of play could make him an ideal fit for Barcelona’s system.

Barcelona have missed out on multiple South American talents in recent times, including the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Endrick and even Julian Alvarez. They are in talks to sign Vitor Roque of Athletico Paranaense, but the deal looks complicated, especially with Arsenal involved.

Therefore, the prospect of signing Fabricio Diaz could be appealing for the Catalans as they look to reinforce their ranks in the middle of the park.

Although it might be too early to hail the young Uruguayan as the ideal replacement for Sergio Busquets, the player certainly has what it takes to become an asset for the club in the number six position. And for a fee of just €6 million, he could be an ideal long-termi investment.

Barcelona could be set for a small financial boost in the summer transfer window from one of their former strikers – Ferran Jutgla. The Spaniard, currently at Club Brugge, is linked with an exit, and his ex-club could end up gaining from it.

Barcelona sold him for a discounted price of around €5 million to Brugge in the summer, but made sure to retain 10% of his rights in the process. As such, should the Belgian outfit choose to sell him, Barça would end up getting 10% of the total transfer fees.

One of the parties linked to Jutgla, according to SPORT, is Benfica. And their interest stems from Goncalo Ramos’ potential exit in the summer.

The Portuguese has scored a massive 17 goals (joint-top) in 24 appearances this season, and is on the radar of several top clubs, including the likes of Manchester United.

Benfica have identified Jutgla as one of the potential replacements. Having scored ten goals, and assisted five in 30 appearances in the Belgian Pro League, he is among the players with most goal contributions, with Brugge still in the top four.

He also recorded two goals and assists each in the Champions League this season, including one each in a 2-0 win against Atletico Madrid.

Brugge would be looking to get around double — nearly €10 million — of what they paid for him in the summer, which would secure around a €1 million in sell-on fees for Barcelona.

While it is not a huge sum, it helps Barcelona massive in times of financial trouble.

While Gavi is certain that he wants to continue at Barcelona, the uncertain situation regarding his registration has made several teams attentive to his availability and if a report from Ferran Correas of SPORT is to be believed, Bayern Munich happen to be one of them.

It must be remembered that Gavi signed a new contract with the Blaugrana back in September 2022, until 2026, with a release clause of €1 billion. And while the Spanish court allowed for his registration in the first team in January, things have taken a turn for the worse.

In March, the ruling was revoked, as a result of which the youngster had to move back to his previous enrolment as a youth-team player with his old #30 shirt. So far, while there has been no movement from either side, parties involved remain calm about the situation as the player, himself, wants to stay at Barcelona.

He understands that Barcelona have made his registration an absolute priority. They have assured him that there will be no problem, which is why the youngster simply does not want to listen to offers from any other team.

Interestingly enough, if Barcelona fail to register him by June, the 18-year-old will be available on a free transfer, which is exactly what has made him an attractive commodity in the transfer market.

In that regard, Chelsea are thought to be in the race and Bayern Munich are the latest entrants. It is said that the Bavarians have made Gavi’s representatives know that if he is willing to move from Barcelona, there is a big contract offer waiting for him in Germany.

At the moment, Barcelona are exploring all possible avenues with which they can reduce their salary bill. Once that is done, one can expect the team to get their heads into the registration and renewal of players and also the new signings.