Liverpool back off from signing Marc Bernal as Barcelona secures him

Liverpool's pursuit of FC Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal has become more challenging after the Catalan club reached an agreement to extend his contract for an additional five years, keeping him with the team until 2031, with a release clause set at €500 million.

According to Spanish newspaper "Sport", Liverpool and Atlético have expressed interest in signing Marc Bernal during the last summer transfer window, but the English club was the most serious, as they planned, according to "Team Talk", to make an offer worth around €60 million in the summer of 2027.

Liverpool are monitoring the situation of the 19-year-old player, considering the possibility of taking advantage of his limited playing time at Barcelona to give him a chance to get more minutes on the pitch, given the strong competition in the midfield of the Catalan team, which includes prominent names such as Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Dani Olmo, and Fermín López.

Marc Bernal's situation has changed this season as he has been given regular playing time by coach Hans Flick, which has increased his chances of staying with the first team and reduced the likelihood of his departure, at a time when FC Barcelona is looking to protect its most promising young talents.

The agreement to renew the contract has been reached, with official procedures to be completed in the coming days, allowing midfielder Frenkie de Jong to continue his career with FC Barcelona until 2031, including a hefty release clause aimed at deterring interested clubs.

Marc Bernal's contract renewal is part of FC Barcelona's strategy to keep rising talents from La Masia, after the player suffered a serious injury in the match against Rayo Vallecano that sidelined him for a long time, before he gradually began to regain his place. The club hopes he will continue to develop and become a key figure in midfield in the coming years, while Liverpool will need to look for other options to strengthen this position.