Overview
- Barcelona confirmed a season-long loan to Deportivo A Coruña that includes a €30 million purchase option, a deal finalised on deadline day, September 1–2, 2026.
- The club agreed to cover a large share of Casado’s wages to make the loan viable for newly promoted Deportivo.
- Casado left after being judged surplus to Hansi Flick’s plans at Barcelona, where heavy competition in midfield limited his first-team chances.
- The player weighed offers from Bayer Leverkusen, Turkish clubs and Saudi suitors but chose a La Liga loan to maximise playing time and stay in Spain.
- Reports say Barcelona staff are frustrated by how the late negotiations were handled, blaming agent Jorge Mendes for delays and leaving uncertainty over whether Deportivo will buy Casado next summer.