New Barça-Madrid 'war'? The PSG 'player' who could generate a duel between both teams

The rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid sometimes transcends beyond what happens on the field. On several occasions, these two giants of Spanish and world football have competed to acquire the services of stellar players to strengthen their squads.

Recently, a name that has sparked expectations of a new confrontation between Barcelona and Real Madrid is that of a young talent in European football. This player already stands out in the Netherlands national team and is currently a key player at RB Leipzig, where in the 2024-25 season, he has scored a total of three goals and provided two assists in 11 matches.

Which player could trigger the potential 'war' between Barça and Madrid?

The player in question is the 21-year-old Dutch midfielder, Xavi Simons. According to journalist David Ornstein of 'The Athletic,' it seems that the native of Amsterdam will not continue at Paris Saint-Germain, a team that holds his rights until 2027 and loaned him to RB Leipzig for the current season.

According to the source, rumors suggest that Xavi Simons is considering two main destinations: the Premier League, where clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United have shown interest, or LaLiga EA Sports, where both Barcelona and Real Madrid could be interested in acquiring his services.

Xavi Simons had previously been linked with a return to FC Barcelona

It is worth noting that in the past summer transfer window, Xavi Simons was rumored as a possible reinforcement for Barcelona, one of the most persistent rumors regarding the Catalan team. However, the option of his return to the Blaugrana lost steam due to the interest the Barcelona team showed in Dani Olmo, a player of a similar profile who eventually signed with the Catalan club.

Now, what seems to be a novelty in this bid is Real Madrid's interest in Xavi Simons, a move that was not previously rumored. The team from Chamartín seems to want to strengthen their midfield with a player possessing the qualities that the Dutch midfielder can offer.

PSG won't let him go at a particularly low price

The outcome of this operation is yet to be seen. Although Paris Saint-Germain may be willing to let Xavi Simons go, the player won't come cheap. It is speculated that the Parisians could be looking for around €80 million in the next summer market, a significant amount.

However, the pressure that the Dutchman may exert to leave PSG could influence the negotiations. At the same time, it is clear that the French club would prefer to sell Xavi Simons in 2025 to avoid a depreciation of his value in 2026, when he would have only one year left on his contract, reducing their bargaining power.