The future of Jules Kounde has emerged as an unlikely subject of discussion in Barcelona, in the same week he returned to the club training after an extended summer break.
Kounde’s inconsistent performances last season was a subject of concern for the Blaugrana and it appears clubs like Arsenal are interested in acquiring his services this summer.
Barcelona have been quite active in player sales’ lately, having loaned out Ronald Araujo to Liverpool while Ferran Torres is on the verge of joining PSG.
Will Kounde follow suit?
Kounde has no desire to leave Barcelona. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
According to MARCA, the answer is a firm no, with Kounde having no intention whatsoever of leaving Barcelona this summer.
The French international has plenty of admirers, with Bayern Munich, Arsenal, PSG and Tottenham all said to be keeping tabs on him.
There are no concrete offers as yet, though a leak from England suggests Spurs would be willing to pay €65 million for the defender.
Despite that interest, Kounde remains entirely unmoved. Having renewed his contract until 2030 just a year ago, the 27-year-old is committed to continuing his career under Hansi Flick, and both the club and the player have made that stance clear.
His agent, who denied reports of being in Barcelona for a meeting on Wednesday, has consistently relayed the same message to the club.
As a result, Barcelona’s sporting directors are not dwelling on his future, though Deco and Flick acknowledge that everything could change should an extraordinary offer arrive.
Chasing a milestone at Barcelona
Kounde feels valued at Barcelona. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Beyond simply feeling valued, Kounde has another compelling reason to stay, with the defender on the verge of etching his name into Barcelona’s history books.
The Frenchman has made 188 appearances since arriving from Sevilla in 2022, and is now just five short of equalling Eric Abidal as the French player with the most appearances for the club.
Kounde has already surpassed the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti in that regard. A regular in Flick’s starting eleven, he looks certain to reach that milestone should he remain at Camp Nou.
He may, however, play a different role next season with Flick also seeing him as a potential option for the centre-back role, especially after Araujo’s loan move to Liverpool.