Barcelona held talks with Real Madrid-bound star

Barcelona held talks with the Real Madrid-bound star in recent months.

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Barcelona have experimented with several right-back options this season, as they continue to search for stability in the position.

Jules Kounde has been the preferred choice under Hansi Flick, but his natural role as a centre-back means questions remain about his long-term future on the flank.

The Catalan club has also turned to young talents like Hector Fort, who has shown promise but is still developing at the highest level.

With Barcelona looking to reinforce their squad in the summer, they are expected to bring in a right-back, though financial constraints limit their options.

While names have been discussed internally, the club’s approach suggests they are seeking a cost-effective solution rather than a marquee signing.

One high-profile name that had been linked with Barcelona was Trent Alexander-Arnold, but the club has now distanced itself from the possibility of signing the Liverpool star.

Reports from Cadena Ser claim that Barcelona previously explored a move for the Trent Alexander-Arnold, holding meetings about his potential arrival both in recent months and during Xavi Hernandez’s tenure.

Sporting director Deco even met with Alexander-Arnold’s agent, but discussions never progressed.

Financial difficulties played a major role in ruling out the deal, as Barcelona’s wage structure and transfer budget made it impossible to meet the right-back’s salary and signing-on bonus demands.

Additionally, with Kounde cementing himself as the club’s first-choice right-back, Barcelona felt there was no urgent need to make such an expensive addition.

Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold is now on the verge of a move to Real Madrid, with multiple reports from Spain and the UK stating that a deal is close.

The 26-year-old is expected to leave Liverpool when his contract expires in June, joining Los Blancos on a free transfer.

While Barcelona’s financial struggles prevented them from entering the race, their La Liga rivals appear set to land one of Europe’s top full-backs without spending a transfer fee.

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