Barcelona’s pursuit of highly-rated La Liga full-back under serious threat from European heavyweights | OneFootball

It is known that Barcelona have set their sights on Andrei Ratiu, but they are not the only club in the race for his signature.

In fact, according to Mundo Deportivo, the Rayo Vallecano right-back has been gaining interest from several top clubs across Europe, making his potential transfer highly competitive.

As such, his name was discussed in a meeting between his representatives and Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco. However, the Catalan giants will have to compete with multiple clubs if they wish to secure his services.

Wanted by many teams

The Romanian defender has emerged as a sought-after player, with teams from both Spain and abroad closely monitoring his situation. In La Liga, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Villarreal are all interested in acquiring him.

Villarreal, in particular, hold a strong position in any future transfer negotiations since they retain 50% of his resale value.

Andrei Ratiu is on Barcelona’s radar. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, outside Spain, several clubs have entered the race, including Brighton, Atalanta, Roma, Tottenham, and Bayer Leverkusen.

Contractual situation

Ratiu is currently tied to a contract with Rayo Vallecano that runs until June 2028. His deal includes a release clause of €25 million, but there is an understanding that Rayo might be open to negotiations.

While they value him highly, reports suggest that a transfer could be completed for around €20 million, especially if Barcelona or any other suitor includes performance-based incentives or a resale percentage in the deal.

Rayo Vallecano are well aware that keeping Ratiu in their squad for the long term will be a challenge. The club has built a strong reputation for developing talented players and eventually selling them to bigger teams.

With growing interest from multiple sides, they anticipate serious offers to arrive soon. Barcelona will have to act swiftly and strategically if they want to secure the promising full-back ahead of their European rivals.