Marc Casadó (Sant Pere de Vilamajor, 2003) has had a quiet summer in which he has tried to stay away from the rumors placing him on Barça’s exit ramp. While interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Monaco, where Ansu Fati plays, arrived, the blaugrana midfielder took advantage of early June to go on a safari in Tanzania with his partner, Noa Brea. He needed to disconnect.
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Back in Barcelona, Casadó has focused on organizing the first edition of his camp in Molins de Rei, which also includes the participation of boys and girls from his hometown of Sant Pere de Vilamajor. “They are curious to know things about the Barça locker room. They ask me who I get along with best. I tell them I get along very well with everyone. The ones I spend the most time with, in the end, I think are Lamine Yamal and Balde,” he explains in a conversation with La Vanguardia . “I’ve been preparing for a couple of weeks now because vacations are good to disconnect, but you lose a bit of physical condition,” adds the footballer who is scheduled for a medical check-up on the 13th before preseason.
The footballer is waiting for preseason, which starts on July 13, to make a final decision
Marc Casadó
Before the end of last season, Casadó had a conversation with Hansi Flick in which the coach told him to consider the possibility of seeking a move to get more minutes. At this moment, there are seven players for the three midfield positions: Pedri, Gavi, De Jong, Bernal, Fermín, Olmo, and Casadó. “It was a good conversation,” sums up Casadó, who, for now, wants to complete preseason before deciding. “As long as the club and the coach want me, I will give my all to help the team,” he insists.
If I ever leave, I would like to return to Barça, if they want me,” reflects the midfielder
Marc Casadó
He does not seem nervous or restless. Quite the opposite. It is clear that Casadó is used to handling pressure since he arrived at Barça in 2016, when he was 13 years old. With Rafa Márquez in the B team, he reached football maturity and was already captain at that time. He officially debuted with the first team in the 2022-2023 season, in the Champions League against Viktoria Plzen with Xavi Hernández. However, in La Liga he was on the bench 24 times and even considered leaving. He changed his mind when Flick told him he wanted to try him out.
He started the preseason tour alongside Bernal, in a Barça that could not count on the injured De Jong, Gavi, and Pedri. With the return of the Canarian, Flick chose Bernal to complete the midfield. Casadó reappeared when Bernal suffered a serious injury in the third league matchday. Together with Pedri, he quickly developed perfect chemistry. But Flick was determined to recover De Jong. Ultimately, the football weight and hierarchy of the Dutchman ended up relegating him.
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He had offers last summer. And he decided to stay with Flick’s support. But last season he went from playing 2,447 minutes to participating in 34 matches across all competitions, totaling 1,397 minutes. “I work hard wherever I am: training, matches, gym, wherever to earn my minutes. I have a very clear conscience, I have always given my 100%,” he insists.
Molins de Rei, a meeting with his origins
Marc Casadó Camp
From July 6 to 24, about 150 boys and girls will attend a camp born with the intention of transmitting football and the values that have accompanied Casadó during his development. Although it is held in Molins de Rei, the blaugrana’s roots remain very present: about twenty of the participants come from Sant Pere de Vilamajor, his hometown, as do three of the six coaches and the camp coordinator.
His family is also awaiting an outcome. They do not want him to go far in one of the departures that would also generate some debate among the fans. In Flick’s first league, the naturalness and passion with which Casadó went to Canaletes to celebrate the title surprised many. “This year I told Balde about it. I don’t know if he is very convinced about returning because he had a bit of a hard time, there were more people than the previous year. But it’s something I like, being able to celebrate there, I enjoyed it a lot and that’s what I hold on to,” says Casadó, who is closely following the World Cup, especially impressed by Leo Messi’s role. “I don’t see myself playing at that age,” he admits, amazed.
The boys and girls at the camp approach him to eat with them. There are macaroni and chicken on the menu so Casadó can keep telling them stories about the club of his life. “If I ever left, I would surely like to return. As long as the club and the coach want me, my first option will be Barça,” he insists.
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