Barcelona are preparing for a tough match in La Liga against their Basque counterpart Real Sociedad at the Montjuic Stadium in Catalonia, in the 26th round of the Spanish League.
Barcelona are at the top of the Spanish League table with 54 points, while their traditional rival, Real Madrid, are in second place with the same number of points, behind on goal difference.
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According to information from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional”, Barcelona continues its efforts in the transfer market to strengthen its squad in preparation for the next season, as club president Joan Laporta seeks to achieve his most significant goal: signing AC Milan striker Rafael Leao.
Leao is the primary target for Barcelona’s management, and the club is ready to do everything in its power to complete the deal. However, the process will not be easy, as Milan is demanding over 100 million euros in exchange for allowing the player to leave.
In an attempt to reduce the cost of the deal, Barcelona has proposed the idea of including Ferran Torres in the deal with Milan. The Spanish winger has not been an essential part of Hansi Flick’s plans, and his availability may help reduce the overall cost of the transfer. Milan showed interest in Ferran Torres during the last winter transfer window, which could facilitate an agreement between the two clubs. The Italian team is looking to strengthen its attack and believes Ferran has the talent and experience necessary to integrate into their attacking style.
Since joining Milan in 2019, Rafael Leao has established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe due to his speed, dribbling skills, and ability to threaten opponents’ goals. These qualities have made him the focus of attention from many major clubs, with Barcelona being one of the most interested in obtaining his services.
Laporta sees Leao as a player capable of making a difference and leading Barcelona’s attack alongside young players such as Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. However, the biggest challenge lies in the player’s price, as Milan does not intend to sell him for less than 100 million euros, which presents a major challenge for Barcelona given its difficult financial situation.
Ferran Torres moved to Barcelona in January 2022 from Manchester City for around 55 million euros. Despite having some good moments, he has not established himself as a regular starter. With the arrival of Hansi Flick, his role has diminished even further, prompting the club to consider his departure. Although the inclusion of Ferran Torres in the deal could facilitate an agreement with Milan for Rafael Leao, Barcelona will still need to make a significant financial effort to complete the operation.
