Saudi chief confirms interest in Barcelona stars

Tom Weber

Updated: 11 Jan 2025 17:53 GMT
3 min read

Hansi Flick, Barcelona, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Al-Ittihad boss Ramon Planes has confirmed that he is keeping tabs on several Barcelona players after recent links with Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong.

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The Blaugrana are in the midst of a big January window. While summer signing Dani Olmo can now, provisionally, play again for the club, there are several personnel questions that linger.

Star centre-back Ronald Araujo is being courted by Juventus, who will launch a formal bid for the Uruguay international after Barcelona's Supercup clash with Real Madrid.

After the Olmo mess, Barcelona know that they will have to sell players in order to be able to bring in reinforcements and Araujo is far from the only star who has suitors.

In recent weeks, there has been renewed speculation surrounding the likes of Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong, with the latter increasingly becoming an unpopular figure in Catalunya.

Saudi chief confirms interest

It has been claimed that both have admirers in Saudi Arabia, though De Jong's agent recently sought to play down links with the Pro League by bluntly branding the exit speculation as nonsense.

However, Al-Ittihad boss Ramon Planes, formerly Barcelona's sporting director, has openly confirmed to Mundo Deportivo that there are several Blaugrana players on his shortlist.

”Barca have the profile of many players that are liked here, with technical players, with talent, and if you analyse the squad, there are many interesting players with a good profile to come and it is true that some are on our lists.”

"I can't say [who], some names have more impact than others. It's not just about big-name players. We are increasingly trying to recruit more young players, not just footballers who may already be thinking of ending their career here, but players who are coming in at good ages.

However, Planes assured Barcelona fans that he would not go after the club's most prized possession, Lamine Yamal. "The good news for Barca is that he will stay at Barca for many years and I am convinced that will be the case."