Napoli Tell FC Barcelona Their Fabian Ruiz Asking Price

For all the talk there is of an ‘overbooking’ in FC Barcelona’s midfield, a club of such magnitude maintains a constant list of targets it believes can bolster its squad.

Veterans Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal are likely to be moved on in the summer, freeing up two spaces to start with. But there will also be the return of Carles Alena from Real Betis and the rise of fellow La Masia graduate Riqui Puig to consider.

In recent weeks, the availability of Arthur has been discussed by the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus, leaving fans stunned when the Barça board seemed open to negotiating his sale. And while the Brazilian is intent on staying put, a desire to land Neymar and Lautaro Martinez in cash-strapped times means all but Lionel Messi, Frenkie de Jong and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen are up for sale at the Camp Nou.

Before the outbreak of COVID-19, and talk of landing the aforementioned winger and striker intensified, Fabian Ruiz was long talked by the Catalan press as being fancied by the La Liga holders.

Impressive in the 1-1 draw between them and his employers Napoli in the Champions League last 16, prior to elite soccer being halted in Europe, the 24-year-old passed his audition before Quique Setien with flying colors, as communicated by comments recently made by the coach to the Italian press.

Dubbing him a “great player, of an extraordinary level” to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Setien added that the Spanish international has “enormous potential that he has quickly shown” through his performances.

And now, according to Gabriel Sans, Gennaro Gattuso’s overlords have named their price for the Seville native as confirmed by Barça to Mundo Deportivo.

Failing to get their charge to agree fresh terms, which would have come with a hefty release clause, Ruiz can apparently be landed for an agreeable $66mn if the Blaugrana can come up with the cash before bitter rivals Real Madrid.

Tied down in a contract until 2023, Ruiz isn’t going anywhere for a while unless one of the two La Liga giants makes a move, but the youngster may be mindful of seeing his chances of making Spain’s Euro 2021 squad improve by actually plying his trade in his homeland.

Believed to be in poorer financial shape than Madrid, it is concluded by Sans that only through player sales could Barça finally make Ruiz theirs.