Barcelona’s pursuit of a new winger has hit another roadblock, as reports suggest that they may miss out on their Plan B target, Luis Diaz. Initially focusing on Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, the Catalan club began exploring alternatives when a deal for Williams seemed unlikely. Among the alternatives, Liverpool’s Luis Diaz emerged as a top option, with Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, reportedly a big fan of the Colombian international.
However, the Blaugrana’s hopes of landing Diaz have taken a significant hit. Journalist Marcos Benito, through El Chiringuito TV, has revealed that Manchester City has already reached an agreement with the 27-year-old winger on a five-year contract. City is reportedly ready to pay €70 million to secure Diaz’s services from Liverpool.
This development is a major setback for Barcelona, who had previously shown interest in Diaz back in January 2022, before he ultimately joined Liverpool from FC Porto. Despite recent discussions between the winger’s agent and Barcelona president Joan Laporta, it seems Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has gained a decisive advantage in the race to sign the talented attacker.
If true, Barcelona will be left searching for other options to strengthen their attack, as their plans to acquire both Nico Williams and Luis Diaz appear to be unraveling.