One of the Bundesliga hottest young strikers has publicly admitted that he is keen to go back to Barcelona, the club where he began his youth career.
The 21-year-old, who left Catalonia many years ago, has grown into one of the most promising creative geniuses in Europe.
Following spells at Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig, where his €80m transfer dominated the headlines, the Dutch international is now at a crossroads in his professional career.
As much as he has succeeded elsewhere, the player’s heart remains fixed on a return to Camp Nou.
Barcelona’s publicly reported financial crisis and Leipzig’s adamant €75 million asking price, however, render this reunion highly improbable in this transfer window.
The situation presents a bitter reality for both the player and his boyhood club, with them having little option but to look elsewhere for the foreseeable future.
As told by best transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano, Xavi Simons retains aspirations to wear the Blaugrana stripes again.
The La Masia graduate has seemingly informed the Barcelona authorities, letting them know of his desire to return when the circumstances permit.
While the emotional pull of Barcelona remains strong, pragmatism has sharpened minds in England, where Chelsea and Manchester United are now real contenders who can meet Leipzig’s price.
Barcelona previously attempted to bring Simons on loan, during Xavi Hernández’s regime, but the reluctance of PSG to sell permanently was too substantial to overcome.
This summer is another standoff; the Bundesliga side is no longer willing to haggle on their pricing.
The Premier League is Simons’ new most likely destination, although his long-term dream is elsewhere.
The situation just goes to show the realities of football today, where financial considerations tend to dominate over emotional ones.
While Simons’ Barcelona dream still lives, its fulfillment may have to wait until both clubs present better options.
In the meantime, the talented playmaker will need to put priority on finding the proper atmosphere in which to further his development, even if it means shelving the Camp Nou dream for the time being.
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