Barcelona face a frantic final day of the 2026 summer transfer window, and midfielder Marc Casado looks almost certain to depart before the 1am CEST deadline.
Barcelona Star Casado Prioritises Deadline Day Move to Bayer Leverkusen
Hansi Flick has deemed the La Masia graduate surplus to requirements following Rodri’s arrival, which has pushed Casado firmly out of first-team contention.
The 22-year-old’s situation has attracted significant interest from clubs across Europe and Saudi Arabia.
Besiktas have pushed hardest to secure his signature in recent days, but according to Sport, Casado would prefer to join Bayer Leverkusen before the window slams shut.
The primary reason for Casado’s preference is the presence of Carles Martinez at the BayArena.
The Catalan coach, who took charge of Leverkusen earlier this summer, previously worked with Casado at La Masia.
That reunion holds enormous appeal for the Spanish midfielder, who sees Leverkusen as the ideal destination at this stage of his career.
While Casado has valued interest from La Liga sides such as Real Betis, reports suggest the Andalusian club are not pushing for a deal.
Leverkusen now hold a clear advantage in negotiations, but they must meet Barcelona’s asking price.
The Catalans are demanding approximately €30m for the midfielder, and with both Leverkusen and Besiktas unlikely to meet that valuation comfortably, the coming hours will prove decisive.
Barcelona are desperate to cash in on Casado but will only sanction a departure if they receive a satisfactory offer.
With time running out, all eyes are on whether Leverkusen can strike a deal to bring the La Masia product to the Bundesliga.
