Atletico Madrid offers Barcelona a swap deal to sign Marc Casado

Atlético Madrid’s interest in Barcelona midfielder Marc Casadó has intensified, with the club now exploring alternative routes to secure the 21-year-old’s signature. Diego Simeone remains determined to bolster his midfield options before the start of the 2025/26 campaign, and Casadó has emerged as a top target. While Atleti has already been active in the transfer market, Simeone believes that Casadó could bring a unique profile to his squad.

Simeone views Casadó as a versatile and technically sound midfielder with tremendous upside. Despite not being a regular starter under new Barça manager Hansi Flick, Casadó’s performances with Barça Atlètic and sporadic first-team appearances have left a strong impression across La Liga. The Argentine coach believes he can take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding Casadó’s role at Camp Nou.

The young midfielder faces stiff competition at Barcelona, with players like Gavi, Pedri, Fermin Lopez, and Ilkay Gündogan ahead of him in the pecking order. Flick’s tactical system, which emphasizes positional discipline and fast transitional play, hasn’t yet carved out a defined role for Casadó. This has opened the door for suitors, and Atlético hopes to capitalize.

Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco are reportedly open to listening to offers for Casadó, though they remain firm in their valuation. Barça has set a price tag in excess of €50 million for the player, a figure Atlético Madrid currently finds excessive. Club president Enrique Cerezo is reportedly reluctant to pay that amount outright, pushing the Madrid-based side to seek creative alternatives.

One such alternative has come in the form of a swap deal. Atlético Madrid has floated the idea of offering Conor Gallagher in exchange for Casadó. Gallagher, who joined Atleti just last summer from Chelsea, has struggled to adapt to Spanish football. Simeone, known for his demanding tactical requirements, is reportedly dissatisfied with the Englishman’s lack of fit in his system.

The proposal came as Atlético began actively searching for an exit route for Gallagher. The English international, once highly regarded in the Premier League for his dynamism and box-to-box energy, has failed to replicate that form in Spain. Simeone now sees him as expendable and is hoping Barça would be willing to take a chance on him in a direct swap.

However, Barcelona’s response was swift and firm. Club officials made it clear that they are not interested in a player exchange, especially one involving Gallagher. Sources close to the club revealed that Flick does not view Gallagher as a tactical fit, and any deal for Casadó would need to involve a significant financial offer, not a swap.

While Casadó is not deemed “untouchable” in Flick’s long-term project, Barça is in no rush to offload him unless their financial demands are met. The player, born in 2003, is still considered one of the academy’s most promising graduates, and the club is wary of repeating past mistakes by letting talents go too cheaply.

Atlético’s ongoing push to sign players directly from Barcelona is nothing new. The Madrid club has successfully recruited several high-profile Barça names in the past, including David Villa, Luis Suárez, Antoine Griezmann (on multiple occasions), and Memphis Depay. Simeone now hopes Casadó will follow in those footsteps, but the current stance from Barça indicates this pursuit will be more complicated.

The situation could evolve if Casadó himself becomes convinced of the move and pushes for an exit. Reports suggest he has not ruled out a transfer entirely, especially if regular minutes continue to evade him. However, his future will ultimately depend on Barcelona’s evaluation and the club’s need to balance their books amid tight Financial Fair Play constraints.

For now, Atlético’s proposal has been rebuffed, but negotiations in the football world are rarely final after the first attempt. Should Atlético return with an improved cash-based offer or a more suitable player alternative, Barcelona may reconsider their stance. Until then, Marc Casadó remains a Blaugrana—albeit one with an uncertain role in Flick’s evolving system.