Guedes prefers Barça over Atlético and Benfica
Atleti and Benfica are keen to sign the winger but he has his heart set on going to Camp Nou - as long as the operation goes ahead and LaLiga authorizes it.
Gonçalo Guedes wants to play for Barça and that is exactly what he has told his agent Jorge Mendes when he found out about the other two options on the table - Atlético Madrid and Benfica. And there are more interested clubs, but the Portuguese winger is currently weighing up these three options.
Guedes’ preference is Barça, but a series of conditions must be met for the operation to come to fruition. The former PSG and Valencia player is under contract until 2027; Barça meanwhile are highly conditioned by their economic situation and, especially, by the financial fairplay regulations. Barça’s plan is to go ahead with a similar operation to the one they employed to sign Adama’s last season and secure a loan without a mandatory purchase option. Such a move would also help to keep them within the salary margins set by LaLiga.
For the moment, Barça have the advantage that the footballer wants to play for them - even though Benfica is his hometown club where he grew up and are also playing in the Champions League. He knows that Xavi would be delighted with the chance of having a footballer who is capable of playing either on the wing or as a striker, as he did during Marcelino’s time at Valencia. Of course, he would have to improve his defensive game - a requisite that Xavi’s system demands. The three options right now are on the table.