Dro's current contract runs until 2027, and Barça's intention is to follow the same pathway they applied with players such as Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, renewing and upgrading their deals as soon as they were of legal age. With this move, the Blaugrana want to reinforce their commitment to La Masia and protect themselves from potential interest from other clubs tracking Dro's development.
The Blaugrana, who won the title last season by beating Real Madrid handsomely, will be eager to retain the trophy. For that to happen, they must first deal with Athletic Club tonight to secure a place in Sunday's final. Barcelona go into the game on the back of a strong run of results, racking up eight wins in a row in all competitions, most recently beating local rivals Espanyol 2-0 this past weekend.
The operation will not be straightforward for any club attempting to take Ake out of Manchester during this winter window. The Dutch international is under contract until June 2027 and earns a high salary. One of the main obstacles for Barcelona is that Man City would only listen to offers in the region of €20 million and are unlikely to agree to a loan deal. In addition, other Premier League clubs are also closely monitoring Ake's situation.
It is no secret that Barcelona are on the hunt for defensive reinforcements, either in the ongoing January transfer window or in the coming summer. The club are determined to find replacements for Andreas Christensen and Inigo Martinez. But thanks to the sustained economic problems, the club are ideally looking for cost-effective options. That is perhaps why Barcelona have long been linked with a move for Marc Guehi.
As the world locked down in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, heads of state globally took to television in sombre suits and ties to deliver grave news. Maduro, on the other hand, appeared on Venezuelan state television wearing a full, bright blue FC Barcelona tracksuit. In a video released shortly after, he jokingly pointed to the club crest on his chest, claiming he had been "signed" by the club as a "refuerzo" (reinforcement) for the squad.
As per the report, Barcelona midfield superstar Pedri will not be a part of the starting lineup to face Espanyol today. The 23-year-old midfielder had missed the Catalans' last game of 2025 against Villarreal due to mild discomfort. However, he has recovered completely from the issue and trained throughout the week and was named in the squad list, along with Dani Olmo.
FC Barcelona trained this morning for the final time in 2025 as they focus their attention on Saturday's match against RCD Espanyol away from home. Having ended the first part of the season on a winning note, the Catalans will be eager to begin 2026 in the same vein of form. The fact that they face their local rivals in the first game of the year will only serve as added motivation.