'I'd like to return' - In-form star breaks silence on Barcelona rumours
Tom Weber
- Updated: 6 Nov 2023 19:20 GMT
- 4 min read
La Masia product Alejandro Grimaldo has admitted that he would like to return to Barcelona.
Perhaps Europe's most in-form left-back, the Spaniard has been on an absolute tear in the Bundesliga, notching a stunning seven goals and five assists in 15 appearances in all competitions for high-flying Leverkusen.
The table-topping Bundesliga side has enjoyed a spectacular start to the season under Xabi Alonso and many of their stars are catching the attention of Europe's elite. Indeed, Grimaldo was recently floated in the Spanish media as a potentially cheaper alternative for Real Madrid should they fail to land Bayern star Alphonso Davies.
READ: Real Madrid lead Barcelona in race for €100m star
Whether Grimaldo, a product of Barcelona's famous La Masia academy, would sign for his ex-club's hated rivals is up for debate. In fact, over the summer, there were rumours that, rather than moving to Bayer 04 (or Real), he could instead be on his way back to Catalunya and the 28-year-old has now addressed these reports.
On repeat 😍#M05B04 #Bayer04 | @grimaldo35 pic.twitter.com/iNYC29jiDD
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) October 3, 2023
Back to Barcelona?
Slammed as "fake news" by Fabrizio Romano at the time, Grimaldo has revealed that there were indeed conversations with Barcelona but that nothing concrete ultimately developed in the summer - instead, he made a free transfer move to Leverkusen after leaving Benfica.
"I have always said," he told Jijantes, "that Barça was a club to which I could return... that is, I would like to return because it is Barça. After all, I grew up there as a player and I was very happy to have been in their academy. But the truth is that Barça did not show interest in me."
READ: Barcelona have ‘serious concerns’ over loan star
"There were conversations, but they never showed interest beyond a conversation between the agent and the club, without going further. They stayed focused on the two full-backs they already had and did not evaluate other options. In the end, we knew that there was a permanent full-back in my position [Alejandro Balde]."
