Barcelona Ends Pursuit of Kimmich
Marc Casado has made a significant leap in his performance as a defensive midfielder, showcasing calmness on the ball and an ability to read the game. His elevation in status under new coach Hansi Flick has led Barcelona to end their pursuit of Bayern Munich’s Kimmich, according to reports from El Nacional.
The Bigger Picture
Flick joined Barcelona ahead of the 2024/25 season during a challenging time for the club. He quickly identified La Masia duo Marc Bernal and Casado as key players to strengthen the midfield, especially with first-team stars like Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Frenkie de Jong absent at the start of the season.
Initially, Casado was overlooked in favor of the more highly-rated Bernal. However, a long-term injury to Bernal opened the door for Casado to showcase his skills.
It was no secret that Barcelona was eager to secure Kimmich’s services last summer, and just last week, the German midfielder hinted at a potential move to Barcelona as his contract runs until June 2025.
However, that option now seems unlikely, as Barcelona appears to prefer the 21-year-old Casado over Kimmich, who will turn 30 in February.
Did You Know?
Despite Casado’s excellent vision and technical abilities, he has surprisingly yet to score a goal for either the Barcelona first team or the reserve team, Barcelona B.
What’s Next?
Both Kimmich and Casado will return to action for their respective teams this weekend. Bayern will host fourth-placed Union Berlin in a Bundesliga match on Saturday, November 2, while Barcelona is scheduled to face Espanyol at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys the following day.
