The contrast is striking and demonstrates the incredible gap that now separates the two great rivals. In three days, Real Madrid won their fifteenth Champions League and announced the signing of Kylian Mbappé. For its part, FC Barcelona is swimming in the fog. Author of a completely failed season under the leadership of Xavi, the Catalan club finished in second place in La Liga, ten points behind Real, and was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against PSG. A terrible downgrade which cost Xavi his head on the bench.
The Blaugrana’s hope now lies in the appointment of Hansi Flick. The German technician, who traumatized Barça during the C1 quarter-finals in 2020 with a scathing 8-2, has been on the other side for a few days now. Expected to turn the corner after an unconvincing stint at the head of the German selection, Flick has a heavy task in sportingly straightening out the residents of the Camp Nou. Plagued by enormous financial problems, Barça is not the easiest club to put back on the map… However, Flick and the Catalan sports management are already working together for the upcoming summer transfer window. And two names are already coming back insistently around the Sagrada Família.
Joshua Kimmich and Nico Williams are targeted
Indeed, Sport informs us this Tuesday that Nico Williams and Joshua Kimmich are the two priorities of the Barcelona summer. For the first city, optimism would reign on the Barça side. Extending his contract last year, the 21-year-old winger is attracted by the idea of wearing the blue and red tunic next year. To recruit him, the Catalan leaders considered paying in several installments a sum larger than his release clause. The aim being to pay less this summer, Barça could nevertheless agree to pay the 50, or even 60 million release clause for the Bilbao winger, Spanish international (13 caps, 2 goals).
For the versatile Bayern Munich midfielder, FC Barcelona has other arguments. Indeed, Hansi Flick, who has a high regard for the player since their joint time in Bavaria and with the Mannschaft, will personally get involved in the deal, according to our Catalan colleagues. Having already seen its first offer refused by the 29-year-old player, Barça is groping forward, but intends to make a second improved offer to convince the player, who may be seduced by the project. Earning nearly 20 million per year, his salary seems difficult to achieve for Catalan finances which do not allow such emoluments. One year before the end of his contract with the residents of the Allianz Arena, Kimmich will not be accepted in the event of a good offer from his managers.
