Jules Kounde, the Barcelona star may move to Saudi Pro League
The Saudi Pro League may be interested in transferring Barcelona defender Jules Kounde this summer.
The Saudi Pro League team spent a significant amount of transfer expenditure in Europe last summer, and the Saudi elite division made ripples, and they are predicted to go further this time around.
La Blaugrana is worried as they think about sales in addition to the Middle Eastern urge to spend.
Although Barcelona’s financial situation has improved overall, they will probably still need to make a sizable sale in the upcoming weeks.
According to Marca, with Al Ittihad expressing interest in acquiring the French star, Kounde may be traded this summer.
To maintain flexibility in his team, new manager Hansi Flick will probably need to trade at least one defender because Barcelona is overcrowded at center defense.
Barcelona has a deal with Kounde that expires in 2027, and the team will only entertain a trade for a minimum of €50 million.
Jules Kounde at Barcelona
On the other hand, Jules Kounde says he is a leader in the Barcelona locker room and a vital member of the team.
“I am one of Barça’s key players, one of the leaders of the locker room and, above all, I am a reliable player. That is perhaps one of the things I am most proud of,” he added.
“This season, apart from the time Gavi injured my knee when he accidentally bumped into me, I haven’t had a single physical problem to complain about.
“I am very proud of it, because it is the result of a lot of work.”
Since joining Sevilla in 2022, the France international has been a consistent player, filling in at center defense and right back.
Mbappe left Paris Saint-Germain to join Real Madrid this summer, and he will play in La Liga against Barcelona the following year.
“That’s why I play football, for the big games, to face the best,” he told Le Parisien.
“And in that sense, Kylian is the ‘Crème de la Crème’. So he is very satisfying. But a player like Kylian Mbappé cannot be stopped alone, it requires a collective effort.
“Performing against players like that encourages you to keep going, to keep looking for more, and convinces you that if you work hard, sooner or later you will get it.”
Mbappe and Kounde are part of the France squad that is heavily favored to win Euro 2024 in Germany this summer. On Monday, June 17, they began their campaign against Austria.