Over the course of the last several years, FC Barcelona have undoubtedly had to make some difficult decisions. Such are the consequences of poor financial management, and the club paid the due price for it. Unfortunately, the aforementioned consequences continue to plague Barcelona even today.
The Catalan giants have had to make some sales that they normally would never have considered making. In other cases, they have even had to let go of legends like Lionel Messi in order to establish some stability and overcome their own financial limitations, irrespective of the sporting hits they took as a consequence.
Now, with Hansi Flick in charge, things are looking much better. Both in La Liga and now in the Champions League as well, Barcelona look much more at ease and seem to play with an identity that was nowhere to be seen for many years, especially at a consistent rate at least.
However, while they may have had to lose players in the past such as Ilkay Gundogan and are doing better now, there is no restriction on them when it comes to assessing if a certain player can be brought back now that the club is gradually returning to a more stable version of itself. Moreover, as per the latest updates when it comes to Barça’s transfer targets, that may just be the case.
According to SPORT, 22-year-old Nico Gonzalez could be the player that Barcelona may end up assessing as a potential option to sign again. After having signed with Porto back in 2023, it has been more than a year since Nico was last officially contracted to the Catalan giants.
Now, however, his fortunes seem to have turned at Porto as well. Previously, during his first season at the club, the Spaniard was unable to find his footing and was even left out of certain matchday squads. With Vitor Bruno now in charge, however, he is of much more use to Porto and is consistently starting for them this season.
Three goals and one assist already belong to him in terms of individual stats, and his role on the pitch is much more advanced as well now. All of these different positives come together to make Nico’s option a rather enticing one for Barcelona, and one that could be considered for sale by Porto.
Due to the Portuguese side’s own financial issues, selling players is not something that they can completely discard. In fact, according to Andre Monteiro, a journalist for Portuguese outlet Record, a potential offer for the Spanish midfielder is something that they would have to consider:
“I think if an offer comes for Nico next summer, Porto will consider it due to their financial struggles.”
Currently, Barcelona have a €30 million buy-back clause attached to the player’s contract with Porto. After having sold him for around €8.5 million and also managing to retain 40% of a future sale, the buy-back clause was another element that Barça made sure to have added in.
However, with the player currently being valued at €15 million and Deco maintaining a good relationship with his former club, perhaps a new agreement being reached between Barcelona and Porto would not be impossible. Only time will tell, but he remains a solid option for the club to consider.