Barcelona’s long-term planning has become increasingly focused on identifying young defensive profiles across Europe, especially those capable of growing into first-team roles over time.
Scouts have been active in several markets, tracking players who fit both the sporting and stylistic demands of the club.
But as Barcelona have learned time and again, spotting talent is only half the battle.
Convincing that talent to buy into the proposed pathway is where things often get complicated.
And in this case, the answer has arrived sooner than expected.
One of the names discussed internally in recent weeks was FC Twente centre-back Ruud Nijstad, a player who had caught the attention of Barcelona’s recruitment staff.
However, according to SPORT, the Dutch defender will not be making a move to Catalonia, having opted to continue his development in the Netherlands.
Despite Barcelona’s interest and initial approach in January, the situation never progressed into advanced negotiations.
The reasons are rooted less in finances and more in sporting logic.
For Ruud Nijstad, the next step was always about minutes, not promises.
At just 18, the left-footed centre-back has already built a meaningful first-team presence at Twente.
He has featured in 12 senior matches, starting several of them, and has shown a level of composure that is rare for a defender his age.
That exposure to top-flight football has accelerated his development and placed him firmly on the radar of multiple European clubs.
Barcelona were among those intrigued, viewing his profile as one that could be moulded for the future.
But the club’s proposal did not fully align with where the player currently stands.
Barcelona’s plan involved a place with the reserve side, combined with opportunities to train alongside the first team.
While that pathway has worked for some, it offered less immediate appeal to a player already competing regularly at senior level.
From Nijstad’s perspective, stepping back into a developmental environment was seen as a risk rather than a reward.
The desire to keep building momentum in competitive matches ultimately proved decisive.
In modern football, patience often runs thinner for young players who feel ready now.
Reports from the Netherlands suggest Nijstad now has a verbal agreement in place to sign a long-term contract with Twente.
The deal would secure his future at the club while guaranteeing continued first-team involvement, something he values above all else at this stage of his career.
This isn’t the first time Barcelona tried to sign a young Dutchman as they signed Juwensley Onstein last month.
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