Barcelona leave Casado, Balde and Fort out as €100m sales plan takes shape

Barcelona could raise close to €100m from the sales of Marc Casado, Alejandro Balde and Hector Fort before the summer transfer window closes on 1 September.

The three players were left out of the squad for the match against Elche as the club considers their departures while continuing efforts to improve its financial position and fund further recruitment.

Barcelona have already shown a willingness to sell this summer, with the departure of Ferran Torres to Paris Saint-Germain standing out as the most significant deal so far. The club received almost €50m for the forward, despite Torres having only one year remaining on his contract.

Other departures from Barcelona’s La Masia academy have included Jofre Torrents and Tommy Marques. The club has also agreed an important loan move for Araujo to Liverpool, with the English club covering his full salary.

According to Catalan newspaper Sport, Barcelona are still looking for ways to strengthen their finances as uncertainty remains over the centre-forward position. The club may also try to sign another defender before the transfer market shuts.

Casado is the first of the three players who could generate a substantial fee. Barcelona value the 22-year-old midfielder at around €40m, and clubs in Saudi Arabia are prepared to pay that amount. However, Casado would prefer to remain in European football.

The midfielder is regarded as a player with a promising long-term future and an increasingly prominent profile. He has also represented Spain under manager Luis de la Fuente, factors which have led Barcelona to believe that any agreement for his departure should involve a significant financial return.

Balde’s situation has developed more unexpectedly. The left-back had appeared set to begin the season as normal, but manager Hansi Flick said he wanted players who were “100% committed” when asked about the Barcelona academy graduate. Balde was subsequently omitted from the squad to face Elche.

Flick can use Joao Cancelo at left-back, while another option would be to return Gerard Martin to the position he occupied previously. As a result, Balde is now available on the transfer market and is also valued by Barcelona at about €40m.

Benfica have made an offer worth only €20m for Balde, while English clubs including Aston Villa and Manchester United are monitoring his situation closely.

The third player involved is Fort, whose value Barcelona estimate at roughly €20m. Talks with Borussia Dortmund over a permanent move are making noticeable progress, leaving the German club as the leading contender for his signature.

Real Sociedad have also contacted Barcelona to ask about the possibility of signing the defender, but Dortmund remain the furthest advanced in negotiations.

Fort spent last season on loan at Elche, although an injury interrupted his progress.