It has not been an easy week for FC Barcelona. Following their triumphant return to the Spotify Camp Nou, the team was handed a strong reality check by Chelsea as they were beaten 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in the UEFA Champions League. The performance of the entire team left a lot to be desired that night in London. And while the Catalans were able to bounce back from that with a 3-1 win over Alaves in La Liga on Saturday,
Indeed, according to Sport BILD, Barcelona are among some of the top clubs in Europe, who recently watched RB Leipzig midfield prodigy Assan Ouedraogo in action. Along with the Blaugrana, Premier League heavyweights Arsenal and Liverpool also scouted the 19-year-old German ace. Ouedraogo is a product of the Schalke youth academy. Having broken into the first-team setup and made 17 appearances, the youngster was snapped up by Leipzig in the summer of 2024.
Frankie de Jong will miss Barcelona's clash with Alaves at Camp Nou on Saturday after being left out of the squad by Hansi Flick. The Dutchman had been expected to start the game but was a surprise omission seemingly at the last minute. Marc Bernal will take over in midfield and make his first start of the season. There's been no official word on why De Jong is missing today, but multiple outlets are reporting it's for "family reasons" and not due to injury.
It is no secret that FC Barcelona are always on the lookout for up-and-coming young talents in Brazil. While their last signing from the region, Vitor Roque, did not work out, the Catalans continue to monitor players bursting onto the scene at a young age in the South American nation. Souza on Barcelona's radar In that regard, AS reports that Joao Victor de Souza of Santos has popped up on the radar of Barcelona.
While he has been training alone with goalkeeping coach Jose Ramon de la Fuente for weeks, the plan is now accelerating. Ter Stegen is expected to rejoin group training within the next two weeks. If everything goes according to plan, he should receive the medical green light before the end of 2025. His recent social media post, captioned "It's great to be back with the team," confirms that he is already reintegrating with the squad dynamics.
"When we lose and when we concede three goals, it's easy to say it wasn't a good game or that it wasn't the Barça we'd like to see. Ultimately, some people don't understand what we need to play with that high defensive line. It's our own style; it's not just about the defenders. The forwards and midfielders also initiate the press. That's what I need from the players."
Although the winter transfer window is still some way away, Barcelona remain attentive to all activity around them. The sporting department continues to monitor the football landscape closely in order to anticipate future needs and avoid losing ground to other clubs. Meetings between agents and club executives are part of daily operations, allowing both sides to exchange information, understand upcoming market movements, and lay a foundation that may later prove decisive.
Nico Schlotterbeck is fast-emerging as one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga, with the German already establishing himself as a real leader in the Dortmund backline. A centre-back by trade, Schlotterbeck is known for his technical brilliance and speed, making him a crafty operator who can not only execute forward passes but also break down counter-attacks. Schlotterbeck has been performing consistently for Dortmund for years and has now attracted the interest of top clubs across Europe, including Barcelona.
