FC Barcelona Defender Jules Kounde Open To Leaving Club

FC Barcelona defender Jules Kounde is open to leaving the club and has given the Catalans his approval to listen to offers that come in for him, according to respected Relevo journalist Toni Juanmarti.

Juanmarti worked at Catalan daily newspaper SPORT for a number of years and reported the news on his popular Twitter account approaching 1PM in Spain on Tuesday afternoon.

He tweeted that the Frenchman “has given the club the OK to listen to any offers that may arrive” for him, and doesn’t feel comfortable playing as a right back where he feels he might have to stay – presumably because of the strong partnership formed by Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen in central defense.

Qatar 2022 World Cup finalist Kounde has reportedly had a chat about the matter with head coach Xavi, who now knows about the centre back’s discontent.

Juanmarti stressed that it is important to note Kounde hasn’t requested a transfer himself despite being open to leaving.

Furthermore, though, Barca also know that his market value has grown compared to the summer of 2022, which could push them to try and sell the 24-year-old ahead of next season.

Before the current campaign, Barca memorably beat Chelsea to the ex-Sevilla defender’s signature after pulling one of their famous ‘economic levers’.

They signed him for a “base fee” of €50 million ($55 million) according to Goal, tying Kounde down to a five-year deal with a Paris Saint Germain-proof release clause of €1 billion ($1.01 billion) attached to it.

Despite his apparent discomfort at being made to operate as a right back, Kounde’s first season has been an undoubted success.

He has already helped the club win a first La Liga title in four years, and a maiden Spanish top flight crown under Xavi, while playing a pivotal role in one of the best-performing defences in Europe as goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen kept 25 clean sheets and counting in 35 outings.

It has been rumored that Barca might sell Christensen considering the club’s financial problems, plus the fact that they paid nothing for him from Chelsea in a free transfer making any potential offloading present pure profit.

If Kounde isn’t happy, however, and Xavi refuses to yield and change his plans, it could be the number 23 and not the Dane that is moved on barely 12 months after joining.