According to Marca, Al-Hilal is pressuring Barcelona midfielder Robert Casado, but the player has reservations about moving to Saudi Arabia.
Casado's departure represents a planned financial move for Barcelona. Last season, the midfielder saw limited playing time, a decline from the previous campaign, with no signs of improvement ahead. In the new season, manager Hansi Flick will have a fully fit Gavi and Robert Bernal back at his disposal after their injury recoveries, which means Casado's opportunities will likely diminish further.
For this reason, the club and player reached an agreement weeks ago that a departure would be the best solution. They instructed his agent, Jorge Mendes, to find Casado a new club. Mendes has been actively working to facilitate a move. Multiple offers are currently on the table, with Al-Hilal applying the most pressure and presenting the most competitive package.
The issue is that Casado has consistently harbored doubts about playing in Saudi Arabia. While he recognizes the financial benefits—the Saudi club's salary offer is substantial—he questions whether it represents the right sporting decision. However, his stance has softened in recent days.
Al-Hilal is not his only option. Several European clubs are also considering signing the Barcelona midfielder, including AC Milan. Atlético Madrid had expressed interest previously but is no longer actively pursuing the deal.
Barcelona is awaiting resolution. The club originally hoped to finalize the transfer before June 30 to include it in the previous financial year's accounts, but ultimately decided to allow additional time to maximize the fee. The sporting department believes Casado's total value—combining the fixed transfer fee and performance-related add-ons—could reach approximately €30 million, particularly if the Saudi move materializes.
Barcelona aims to resolve the matter this week, as the team resumes training on Monday, July 13. While not mandatory, the club hopes to settle the situation beforehand to avoid Casado reporting back for pre-season training.
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