It is no secret that Barcelona have been looking at the market for reinforcements in the right-back position for some time now. Last summer, the Catalans roped in Hector Bellerin from Arsenal, but the signing did not work out and the Spaniard already left in January.
With Barça having been interested in a new right-back, they have been looking at several players. Names such as Juan Foyth, Diogo Dalot, Benjamin Pavard, Thomas Meunier, and Joao Cancelo have all been linked.
Now, Ferran Martinez of Mundo Deportivo has revealed that Barcelona were also interested in Malo Gusto, but Chelsea beat them to his signing in the January transfer window.
The 19-year-old is a product of the Olympique Lyon youth academy and has made positive strides in his young career over the past couple of years, becoming a first-team regular at the Groupama Stadium.
Alerted by his potential, Barcelona had been tracking Gusto, as he fit the profile of players they were looking for – a young attack-minded right-back with potential to grow further.
However, during the January transfer window, Chelsea made a swift move to secure Gusto’s signing from Lyon, landing the teenage defender for a fee of around €30 million before loaning him back to the French outfit until the end of the season.
That brought an end to Barcelona’s interest in the French full-back. Although the Catalans were said to be looking at several other options heading into the summer, recent reports suggest that a new right-back is no longer a priority at Camp Nou now.
The inflated market, coupled with the availability of reliable players like Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo and Sergi Roberto, has seemingly changed Barcelona’s mind, with the club now looking to strengthen their midfield department first.
As for Gusto, he will see out the season in Lyon before moving to Chelsea in the summer, where he has signed a long contract until 2030.
