Barcelona want to activate buyback option for La Masia graduate, but will need to sell defenders

It promises to be a busy summer transfer window this year for FC Barcelona sporting director Deco, who will need to make several important decisions starting from the managerial appointment to the roster changes.

One key area that Deco would need to focus on is lightening the number of central defenders in the squad.

Barça already have five centre-backs on the roster in Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, Inigo Martinez, and Pau Cubarsi. That number will rise further in the summer with Eric Garcia and Clement Lenglet set to return from their loan spells.

And there might be another addition to the centre-back department as well.

Barcelona want to re-sign Chadi Riad

If a report from Ivan San Antonio of SPORT is to be believed, Barcelona want to activate the buyback clause and bring Chadi Riad back to the club from Real Betis.

Riad, a product of Barça’s La Masia academy, joined Real Betis on loan in the summer with the deal including an obligation to buy, by virtue of which the Moroccan will become a Los Verdiblancos’ player permanently in the summer.

Barcelona, though, retained a 50% sell-on clause as well as a buyback option for a fee worth around €7 million.

This is not the first time that reports of Barcelona wanting to repurchase Riad have been doing the rounds, although the 20-year-old’s entourage is understood to be unaware of any such developments.

Either way, it appears that Barça are considering bringing Riad back from Real Betis, which would further increase the number of central defenders at the club.

Defenders need to be sold

As such, it becomes imperative for Deco and Barcelona to cut at least a couple of the centre-backs from the squad permanently in the summer.

Clement Lenglet, for one, is certain to leave, with Aston Villa now considering making his transfer permanent after his recent impressive performances.

Eric Garcia could also continue at Girona, where he has enjoyed a lot of prominence this season and has performed well.

The departures of Araujo, Christensen, Cubarsi, and Martinez are pretty much ruled out, although recent reports have suggested that offers could be heard for Kounde.