Barcelona have reportedly decided against signing Spain’s 2026 FIFA World Cup star Aymeric Laporte despite the centre-back being offered to both the Catalan giants and Real Madrid.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the defender is not part of Hansi Flick’s plans for the 2026-27 season. The Barcelona boss is said to be satisfied with his current options at the heart of the defence, with Gerard Martin expected to feature on the left side alongside players like Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde and academy graduate Alvaro Cortes.
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The 32-year-old’s representatives explored the possibility of securing a move for the 2026 FIFA World Cup winner to the Spotify Camp Nou following his impressive tournament with Spain. However, the Blaugrana have taken a cautious approach and turned it down.
The report clarifies that Barca are reluctant to enter negotiations with Athletic Bilbao as the relationship between the two clubs remains strained following the Nico Williams transfer saga.
Aymeric Laporte’s future has become a subject of speculation once again as he enters the final two years of his contract with Athletic Bilbao. The defender boosted his reputation with rock-solid performances for Spain at the heart of the defence at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His partnership with Pau Cubarsi proved to be unbeatable, with La Roja conceding only once in eight games on their way to claiming the coveted trophy. With Barcelona reportedly out of the race for his signature, it remains to be seen if Real Madrid will go all in for him.
Barcelona and PSG join Real Madrid in race to sign Spain’s 2026 FIFA World Cup hero
According to a report by RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins, Barcelona and PSG are interested in hijacking Real Madrid’s move for Spain’s 2026 World Cup star Rodri. The Parisians are said to have contacted Manchester City over the possibility of signing the player, while the Catalan side are also monitoring his situation.
The report mentions that even though the French outfit originally have no plans of signing a midfielder this summer, Rodri’s contract situation has made him a unique opportunity in the market. The midfielder has just one year left on his deal at the Etihad Stadium.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are said to be in pole position to snap up the player after reaching an agreement with him. With the injury to Frenkie de Jong, Barca could also make good use of the opportunity to bolster their midfield options. Only time will tell where the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner will be playing next season.
Edited by Sripad