Goretzka offers himself to Barcelona as free agent, but Deco blocks Hansi Flick reunion

Leon Goretzka has offered his services to Barcelona as a free agent following his exit from Bayern Munich, according to Sport. The 31-year-old became available after his Bayern contract expired on July 1, and his camp has reportedly reached out to the Barcelona hierarchy to gauge interest in a move to Catalonia.

The approach lands at a difficult moment for Barcelona's midfield. Fermin Lopez is out with a fractured metatarsal and Frenkie de Jong is working through a lengthy recovery from a torn knee ligament, while several World Cup winners in the squad have been given extended breaks before returning to pre-season. A reunion with Hansi Flick, with whom Goretzka won two Bundesliga titles and the 2019-20 Champions League at Bayern, would have an obvious sporting logic, and a free transfer would suit a club still working within tight financial limits.

Sporting director Deco isn't sold on it, though. Per the same Sport report, he's opted to look internally rather than the market, viewing 22-year-old Marc Casado as capable of covering the gap left by De Jong. Barcelona's more urgent priority is now the attack, having lost Robert Lewandowski to Chicago Fire, leaving Goretzka to weigh other options. He's drawn interest from Milan and Juventus in Serie A, along with MLS suitors including Chicago, and is currently training at boyhood club VfL Bochum to stay match fit while his next move takes shape.