Inter Milan surge into pole position to hijack Barcelona’s priority target as the Italian champions launch a shock last-minute bid.
The Italian champions-in-waiting have accelerated negotiations and are now on the verge of closing a deal that had long been tracked from the offices at Camp Nou.
Financial muscle, quicker decision-making, and squad planning for the post-Acerbi era have combined to tilt the battle firmly in the Nerazzurri’s favour.
That target is 18-year-old Croatian centre-back Leon Jakirovic, owned by Dinamo Zagreb and widely regarded as a modern defender with strong physical presence and impressive composure on the ball.
Barcelona had earmarked him primarily for Barça Atlètic with a clear pathway to the first team, viewing him as a strategic signing to reinforce their defensive core while pushing for promotion in the Primera RFEF.
Deco and his recruitment unit had followed Jakirovic closely, convinced his profile matched the club’s positional play demands and long-term planning.
Diario Sport indicate an agreement with Dinamo worth around €2.5 million fixed, plus €2 million in performance-related add-ons—an accessible fee for a club operating with far fewer restrictions than Barcelona.
For the Nerazzurri, it is not just about beating a continental rival, but also about securing a succession piece in central defence while fending off competition from RB Salzburg, who were also in the frame.
Barcelona’s limitations are once again rooted in Financial Fair Play.
Both the first team and Barça Atlètic are constrained by La Liga’s salary cap rules, meaning new arrivals cannot be registered without first freeing up room on the wage bill.
In practical terms, that prevented the Catalans from transforming interest into a formal bid at the required speed, even though the player was keen on the move and frustrated at Dinamo after failing to make his debut this season despite being promised a bigger role.
As Inter Milan closes in, the episode serves as another reminder of Barça’s thin margin for manoeuvre in the current market: strong scouting and clear ideas, but too often a step slow when the money and timing matter most.
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