Barcelona in talks to sign former Real Madrid player

Karan Tejwani

• 23 Feb 2023 18:45 GMT
• 3 min read

Xavi admires former Real Madrid star Takefusa Kubo, who is currently enjoying a spell at Real Sociedad and is doing well, according to Diario AS.

Barcelona are looking at the possibility of signing Kubo and have sent their technical secretary to possibly work on a deal for the Japan star.

Barcelona are in contact with Kubo’s agents to see if a deal could be possible and what his link is with Real Madrid in order to get a deal in the works.

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There are a few complications in a deal as Real Madrid still have first refusal on the player if they want to bring back Kubo to the Spanish capital.

Barcelona eyeing Kubo

Real Madrid sold Kubo to Real Sociedad for €6 million last year and have retained 50 percent of his economic rights as part of the deal.

So, whatever amount Real Sociedad sell him for, Real Madrid are entitled to half that amount, meaning Barcelona could fund their big rivals financial kitty.

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Kubo has a release clause of €60 million at Real Sociedad - a steep fee for Barcelona to fork out given their current financial condition.

They have mainly been focusing on free transfers to bolster their ranks, as they did last season, and they aren’t in a good position to spend big on players.

Real Madrid already have a load of midfield talents and the possibility of activating their first refusal on Kubo is looking quite low at the minute.

Barcelona previously had Kubo on their books when he was an emerging youngster at the age of 10, but they had to let him go for violating transfer laws in 2015.

He returned to Japan before a move to Spain with Real Madrid, and although things weren’t rosy at the club, he is now finding his feet in La Liga with his current club.