Barcelona reportedly gave up their efforts to sign Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold for two key reasons.
The England international is set to join Barcelona’s Clasico rivals Real Madrid when his Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season.
Alexander-Arnold has agreed a five-year deal with the Spanish giants, paving the way for him to join Los Blancos on a free transfer on July 1.
The right-back will be donning the famous white of Real Madrid from next season, but Barcelona were seemingly considering whether to make an effort to beat their rivals to his signature.
Why Barcelona gave up Alexander-Arnold pursuit
However, according to Cadena SER, via Sport, the Blaugrana decided against pursuing a move for the Liverpool defender due to two key reasons.
Barcelona have been long-term admirers of Alexander-Arnold, having held an interest since Xavi was in the managerial hotseat.
They have since rekindled their interest in the Englishman, with sporting director Deco meeting the player’s agent to learn more about his situation.
However, Barcelona ultimately decided against a move due to their financial situation, especially as they are keen to put their resources into strengthening other areas.
They also felt that the right-back position was not a priority, with Jules Kounde regarded as Hansi Flick‘s first-choice option.
Their economic situation, combined with Kounde’s status, persuaded them to give up their pursuit of the 26-year-old defender.
Kounde’s importance to Barcelona
Barcelona originally signed Kounde as a central defender when he signed from Sevilla in the summer of 2022.
However, he has since established himself as their main right-back option, demonstrated by the fact he has started 25 of his 28 Premier League appearances this season.
The France international has contributed to Barcelona’s attacking efforts, having scored three goals and provided eight assists this term.
Given his fine form, Barcelona are in no desperate need to sign a right-sided defender unless they want to recruit a backup option for the Frenchman.
