Barcelona will compete with three other European bigwigs in the race to sign Johnny Cardoso from La Liga club Real Betis.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Johnny Cardoso is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The 22-year-old is gaining popularity in the market heading into the summer transfer window. And the outgoing La Liga champions are in a four-way battle alongside Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig for the Real Betis defensive midfielder.
Who is Johnny Cardoso?
Johnny Cardoso has established himself as one of the best young midfielders in La Liga since joining Real Betis in January 2024. A native of Denville, New Jersey, USA, the youngster spent most of his formative years in Brazil, graduating from the Internacional youth division after previously representing two other Brazilian clubs.
The 22-year-old has hit the ground running at Real Betis, turning out 15 times while chipping in with one goal and two assists. Meanwhile, Cardoso’s progress at the Andalusian club has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs, including Barcelona.
Barcelona’s interest in Cardoso is understandable. The Blaugrana parted ways with Sergio Busquets last summer after the Spaniard’s long spell at the Catalan club. However, the former Spanish midfielder has left a gaping hole in the midfield department at FC Barcelona.
Barcelona interested
While Barcelona signed Oriol Romeu last summer, the former Southampton midfielder has failed to make his mark since returning to the club. And after becoming a peripheral figure for the Blaugrana, a departure is on the cards. Meanwhile, Barcelona will delve into the market for a defensive midfielder heading into the summer transfer window.
Johnny Cardoso has thus emerged as a viable target for Barcelona, with the 22-year-old potentially being a long-term solution in the middle of the park. However, Barcelona will be in a four-way battle to sign the USMNT international, with Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig also interested.
However, Cardoso recently insisted that he would not seek a summer departure from Real Betis. That might not be an issue for Barcelona, with the Blaugrana on the verge of signing another Real Betis midfielder, as Guido Rodriguez has agreed to sign a two-year contract.
