Barcelona have decided not to sell Ez Abde amidst interest from Villarreal, while they have also put their plans to offload Francisco Trincao on standby.
According to SPORT, Barcelona have no intentions of selling young forward Ez Abde this summer, despite strong interest from several La Liga clubs, including Villarreal.
Ez Abde joined Barcelona only last year, arriving in a €2 million deal from Hercules CF. The winger was signed to add more firepower to the B team but found himself being called up to the senior side after injuries to senior forwards. And Abde made the most of his chances, making a big impression in his ten first-team appearances, even scoring a goal.
But the signings of Ferran Torres and Adama Traore in January saw Abde return to Barça’s second team. He ended the season strongly with a return of three goals and seven assists from over 20 matches. But, with Ousmane Dembele’s situation not resolved and Barcelona chasing Raphinha of Leeds United, Abde’s pathway to the first team is far from clear.
As a result, the Moroccan winger has been linked with a summer exit, with Osasuna, Real Betis and Villarreal among the clubs interested. The report goes on to mention that Villarreal are ready to offer €8 million to sign the 20-year-old Abde from Barcelona. However, the Catalans have no intentions of selling the young forward.
It is claimed that the Blaugrana see Abde as a player with immense potential and want to keep him at the club. The former Hercules CF starlet is set to train with the senior team in the pre-season, and he could even be handed a first-team squad number.
However, if there is a stockpile of forwards at the club, Barcelona could consider sending Abde out on loan after extending his contract. But as things stand, a permanent sale of the 20-year-old is not something the Catalan giants are not considering.
Francisco Trincao exit on pause due to Dembele situation
While Barcelona do not intend to sell Ez Abde, they are also having to put their plans to offload another winger on standby due to the situation surrounding Ousmane Dembele. According to MARCA, Barcelona have pressed pause on their efforts to sell Francisco Trincao this summer as they wait for more clarity on the future of contract rebel Dembele.
Trincao joined Barcelona in 2020 from SC Braga but had a forgettable debut season in Catalonia. Having fallen out of favour under then-manager Ronald Koeman, the 22-year-old was shipped out on loan to Premier League club Wolves last summer. But the Portuguese international failed to make the most of his time in England.
After he managed a paltry tally of only three goals and an assist from 30 appearances in all competitions, Wolves decided not to sign Trincao permanently, and the winger is now returning to Camp Nou. Portuguese giants Sporting CP are interested in signing him, and Barcelona were willing to sanction a sale.
❗️Francisco Trincao will return to Barcelona's trainings in the next few days. His departure is on stand by, as the club do not want him to sell him until they see what happens with Dembele and know how much money they will have available to sign a replacement.
— @Luis_F_Rojo pic.twitter.com/j6YtFgqY55
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) June 25, 2022
However, they have put those plans on standby for the moment as they wish to see how the situation surrounding Dembele’s contract evolves. The Frenchman has four days left on his current deal with Barcelona, but recent reports have indicated that he might be willing to sign a new deal, although time is running out fast.
If the Frenchman does not renew, Barcelona will be forced to sign a replacement. Raphinha has been earmarked as their main target, but the Leeds United star is also being pursued by English clubs. Furthermore, the Blaugrana are also unsure about the funds they will have to go after their preferred target as they are also eyeing moves for Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde.
So, they want to assess the entire situation before green-lighting the departure of Trincao to Sporting CP. If they end up losing Dembele and are not in a position to invest heavily on a replacement, the 22-year-old Portuguese ace may very well end up staying at Barcelona.
