Barcelona’s midfield reinforcement possible with free-agent signing, but there’s a catch

According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona still have the option to sign Adrien Rabiot, who is currently a free agent after leaving Juventus.

However, negotiations have hit a roadblock because his mother and agent, Veronique Rabiot, is demanding a high salary for her son. This financial demand is the main factor preventing the midfielder from joining a new club.

For Barcelona, the need for a player like Rabiot is even more pressing due to long-term injuries in their midfield.

Gavi, Marc Bernal, and Frenkie de Jong are all sidelined, with De Jong’s injury lasting longer than initially expected. This leaves Barcelona short of options in the midfield, making Rabiot a potential solution.

Asking for a bigger salary

Despite Rabiot being on Barcelona’s radar for some time, there is one significant issue preventing his signing: his salary demands. Rabiot is reportedly asking for a net salary of around €10 million per season, which is a steep price for most clubs, including Barcelona.

His mother, who handles his negotiations, is known for being a tough negotiator, often turning down offers in pursuit of the best financial deal for her son.

As a result, Rabiot remains without a team, even though he has received offers from top clubs like Milan, Galatasaray, Manchester United, and Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr.

Barcelona’s current financial situation doesn’t allow much flexibility in their salary cap, making Rabiot’s demands unrealistic. At present, it seems unlikely that the club will be able to meet his expectations.

However, there are two possible ways the deal could still happen. One option is that Rabiot could lower his financial demands in exchange for a short-term contract, allowing him to leave next summer either for free or with a low release clause.

The second option is that Barcelona could consider signing him with a higher salary to temporarily replace a long-term injured player like De Jong, should surgery be required.

Despite his status as a free agent allowing him to sign with any club at any time, Rabiot’s high demands have left him without a team.

If he doesn’t adjust his financial expectations, he could face the possibility of remaining without a club for months. For now, Barcelona’s hopes of signing Rabiot remain distant unless significant compromises are made on both sides.