On the front page of today’s edition of Sport, it states Barcelona are pressing Matthijs de Ligt to decide if he wants to accept their sporting project over better economic proposals from elsewhere.
Within the story, it’s stated Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are bidding for the player and at the Camp Nou, they no longer hide that signing the Ajax captain is complicated.
The La Liga winners accept it was an error from their end not to sign the centre-back in April, but the reality is it wasn’t possible to seal the deal last month.
Over the past few weeks, the 19-year-old’s performances have seen his stock rise and the defender believes he needs to be paid accordingly.
Ernesto Valverde’s side have convinced the teenager that he will be a ‘franchise player for present and future’ and the Netherlands international has no doubts about the sporting role, if he joins them.
However, the player has received tempting economic proposals, some even double what the Spanish champions are willing to pay. With the latest situation, the Dutchman wants Barcelona to offer him a better deal than the one proposed in April.
After analysing, the Catalan club have made a decision not to offer an improved deal and the same has been communicated to De Ligt’s environment.
Last weekend, reports in Spain suggested that Mino Raiola is a ‘problem’ as the agent is demanding more commission to bring his client to Barcelona.
Sport has now rubbished those claims and they explain the representative is only fighting to get the best deal for his client, whether it is from Barca or from another club.
De Ligt, on his part, is clear that if the Blaugrana raise their offer, he will join them.
However, that hasn’t happened, which is why he must decide whether to accept the sporting project at the Camp Nou or opt for more money.
Sport state: ‘The Blaugrana president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, considered De Ligt as a strategic signing. For this reason, he has made personal efforts to advance the negotiation.’
Right now, the optimism is ‘not very high’ at Barcelona.
