Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado has confirmed his desire to spend his entire career with the Catalan giants amid reports of interest from the Premier League in the shape of Manchester United and Chelsea.
Casado's future is currently the subject of speculation, with both Man United and Chelsea said to be keen on the 21-year-old.
Chelsea are believed to have been in touch with Barcelona last summer to register their interest, while a recent report claimed that Man United are prepared to offer £67m for the Spaniard in the upcoming window.
However, the midfielder has revealed that he wants to spend his entire career with the Catalan team.
"I hope so. I want to spend my entire career at Barcelona and retire here. It's my dream, it's the club I love," Casado told Beteve. "I hope so. As I said, my goal is to stay here as long as possible and finish my career at Barcelona."
© Imago
Man United, Chelsea-linked Casado wants Barcelona stay
Casado has made the breakthrough into the Barcelona first team during the 2024-25 campaign, representing the club on 35 occasions, scoring once and providing six assists in the process.
The midfielder signed a new contract with the Catalan team last June, with his current terms running until June 2028, and he is viewed as a vital player for the club moving forward.
However, Frenkie de Jong's recent form has led to Casado spending time on the bench over the last few weeks.
"I knew this year would be important for me, as it represented a stepping stone to the first team. I believe I've been able to perform well thanks to the confidence of the coach and my teammates," he added.
"As I said, the numbers are good, but my goal now is to finish the season winning titles.
"Ultimately, I'm a young player, and this is my first season in the elite. Frenkie is a fantastic player and he's been performing amazingly this season. But I'm calm, I'm confident, and I'll keep working hard to regain my place.
"My relationship with Frenkie is excellent. He's a great person and a great professional. It's normal that he plays more than me now, but we get along great. At La Masia, they teach us how to compete in a healthy way, and I think that helps the team a lot."
© Imago
Casado has been named in Spain's UEFA Nations League squad
Casado has been included in Spain's UEFA Nations League squad for their two-legged semi-final against the Netherlands, with the midfielder one of seven Barcelona players to be picked.
However, Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Eric Garcia and Fermin Lopez were left out.
"Being called up to the national team is always something special and it's every footballer's dream when they start playing, and now I have to face it with enthusiasm," said Casado.
"In the previous call-up, I didn't know my teammates, but now it's different and I will face it with the same enthusiasm and desire to perform well."
Casado has one goal and three assists in 22 La Liga appearances this season, while he has provided two assists in 10 Champions League outings, with Hansi Flick's side in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Matt Law
