Atlético Sets Sights on Barcelona’s Rising Star in January Transfer Blitz
17 January 2026
The player is unhappy about being sidelined by Flick.
January Pursuit Explained
Marc Casado, Barcelona’s midfielder, has emerged as Atlético Madrid’s top target in this January window, as the Rojiblancos look to use his current situation at Spotify Camp Nou to land a young, talented midfielder.
According to Marca, Atlético sees a midseason reinforcement as urgent after Conor Gallagher’s €40 million sale to Tottenham Hotspur, making a new midfielder a non-negotiable priority.
The club’s sporting department led by Mateu Alemany reportedly has a short list, with Marc Casado from Barcelona and Joao Gomes from Wolverhampton among the leading contenders.
Casado had carved into the starting XI under German coach Hans Flick in the first half of last season, but this campaign he has been sidelined by the depth of options in his position.
Even if a winter exit remains complicated, especially with the possible departure of teammate Drew Fernandes, the 21-year-old is weighing his options beyond Spotify Camp Nou.
January turmoil or not, Atlético’s scouts keep their optics sharp: a headline-grabbing move that keeps the fans buzzing.
Punchline 1: If January transfers were a sniper course, Atlético would graduate with a perfect aim—one target, one shot, one blockbuster headline.
Punchline 2: And if Casado stays, well, that’s football: suspense level higher than the stadium lights, with coffee fueling the press conference.
