FC Barcelona had a 2024/25 season that exceeded all expectations, both in terms of results and the style of football that the team played. New manager Hansi Flick took over at the beginning of the campaign and completely transformed the mentality of the squad, leading to some very memorable results along the way.
One of the very few games through the course of the season when Barcelona were on the wrong side of the result was the Inter Milan games in the Champions League semi-finals. Minutes away from making it to the final, Flick’s men conceded in agonizing fashion before eventually going on to lose the game in extra time.
One Inter Milan player who proved to be a big nemesis for Barcelona across the two games was Dutch wing-back Denzel Dumfries. The 29-year-old’s pace and energy on the right flank often caught out the Barcelona high-line, and he was one player the team just didn’t know how to handle, over the two legs.
Barcelona’s nemesis – Denzel Dumfries
Of the 7 goals that Inter scored, Dumfries was directly involved in 5 of them. Dumfries is said to have a €25million release clause in his contract this summer for a few weeks with super-agent Jorge Mendes even having offered him to Barcelona.
However, as per Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club has made no formal approach for the Dutch defender. Here is what he had to say:
“We haven’t received any formal approach from Barça for Denzel Dumfries. There is a release clause, that’s true… but it will expire soon and we’ll move on.”
Barcelona have sufficient right-back depth
Barcelona’s current first-team squad has Jules Kounde as the starting right-back option. For much of last season, the Frenchman played without any rest, and this came back to haunt Flick & Co. at the wrong time, as he got injured in the first leg against Inter Milan.
Hector Fort was the designated back-up at right-back for Kounde, but when the Frenchman got injured, Flick decided to go with Eric Garcia, and the Spaniard finished off the season in tremendous fashion. Thus, Barcelona have enough and more depth in that area.
Thus, signing Dumfries isn’t necessarily a priority for Barcelona, although having him would be a luxury. Considering the club’s financial situation, though, it would be a surprise to see them make a move on this front this summer. Let’s wait and see how it plays out.
