Jules Koundé does not intend to leave Barcelona in the summer. Spanish media have regularly written about the defender in recent weeks, who would not be satisfied with his role at the Catalan club. According to Koundé and trainer Xavi Hernández, however, there are no problems.
Koundé puts an end to doubts at Barça after stories of dissatisfaction
Koundé became the subject of talk in Spanish media at the end of April because he would not be happy with the position Xavi let him play at Barcelona. After all, the Frenchman was more often right back than central defender, while he is naturally a centre defender. Xavi tried to allay the concerns back then and repeated those words in an interview with Sport on Monday.
“This has been more of a press thing,” the coach said. “I sat with Jules last week and that conversation was fine. It is true that he feels more comfortable in the centre than on the flank, but I explained to him that I had no choice but to do so in the interest of the team. Jules has adapted well to that place. But a departure? There is no question of that at all.”
Koundé, who came over from Seville for fifty million euros last summer, is still with Barcelona until mid-2027. The defender attended a basketball game in his home country on Tuesday and spoke briefly with BeIN Sports. “I’m staying with Barcelona,” he was clear. “To be clear, I never asked for a transfer. I’m going nowhere.”
Xavi reveals Man City snubbing them on transfer deadline day
Xavi Hernández has looked back at João Cancelo’s remarkable winter window in conversation with Spanish media. The Portuguese seemed to be on his way to Barcelona, but eventually moved to Bayern Munich.
Cancelo was one of Manchester City’s star players last season, but fell out of favour with the Premier League champions this year. City then appeared willing to cooperate in a winter transfer.
For Barcelona it was an ultimate opportunity. The Catalans had had Cancelo in their sights for some time and were looking hard to strengthen the right back position. Barça already waved goodbye to Héctor Bellerín and were eager to do business in the winter.
“We wanted Cancelo in January,” Xavi admitted in conversation with Esport3 on Tuesday. “He was offered to us and we said ‘yes’ to it.” The Barcelona coach then assumed that the 29-year-old defender would come to Camp Nou on a rental basis.
“But in the end we were told that Manchester City did not want to loan him to Barcelona,” says Xavi. Instead, Cancelo moved to Bayern Munich on Deadline Day.
