Barcelona has decided to pull out of the competition for Joshua Kimmich, citing Marc Casado’s rise under Hansi Flick as the reason for reshaping their midfield strategy. Casado has gained praise for his composure with the ball and skill in reading the game while playing as a defensive midfielder. His swift elevation under new boss Hansi Flick has caused Barcelona to reconsider their pursuit of Bayern Munich’s Kimmich.

Since joining Barcelona before the 2024-25 season, Flick has encountered a tough situation but quickly identified La Masia prospects Marc Bernal and Casado as crucial choices to strengthen the midfield, especially with regulars like Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Frenkie de Jong ruled out at the beginning of the season.

Although Bernal was initially the preferred choice for a starting position, a significant injury gave Casado the chance to step up and showcase his abilities.

Barcelona had shown interest in signing Kimmich during the summer, and the German midfielder recently hinted at being open to a potential move, given that his contract expires in June 2025. Nevertheless, the possibility now seems improbable as Barcelona turns its attention toward 21-year-old Casado, prioritizing his future over Kimmich’s, who will be 30 in February.