Barcelona will not sign 29-year-old La Liga baller, Fabrizio Romano confirms

We are almost on the brink of closure, as far as the summer transfer window is concerned. But even as we count down the hours, Barcelona are working against the clocks to sanction the sale of their unwanted players while bringing in new faces.

One of Barça’s priorities in the summer was to sign a new playmaker, as part of Xavi’s plans to add a new partner for Pedri in the interior midfield position.

Xavi had even identified Bernardo Silva as the ideal target. But Manchester City’s hefty price tag, coupled with Barcelona’s own economic situation had barred the club from getting their hands on the Portuguese international.

Following the missed opportunity to bring in Bernardo Silva, Barcelona had been linked with a move for Nabil Fekir in between. The Frenchman was seen as a potential cost-effective alternative, especially after a few fruitful years at Real Betis.

However, Fabrizio Romano has squashed all hopes for Barcelona fans, who were expecting the club to bring in someone like Fekir.

Part of the Betis side since 2019, the Frenchman has proven to be a key creative lynchpin for Betis over the years, notably racking up 22 goals and 25 assists in just over 120 appearances. His vast experience at the highest level of football makes him an even more appealing target for Barça, though it appears the player will not be joining the club any time soon.

According to the Italian transfer expert, Barcelona have not kickstarted any negotiations with Real Betis over the services of Fekir. And with just hours remaining until the transfer window slams to a shut, Fekir will remain at Real Betis.

Barcelona are unlikely to go back into the market for the Frenchman either, although a lot will depend on how the playmaker performs in this new season.