Barcelona pause pursuit of Twente defender Ruud Nijstad
Barcelona have placed their plans to sign Dutch teenager Ruud Nijstad from FC Twente on hold, according to reports from Spain. The Catalan club had been tracking the young defender with a view to a summer move, but negotiations have been paused over the player's valuation.
Sport report that Barcelona consider Twente's asking price of €8 million for the 17-year-old to be excessive at this stage of his development. The club's sporting director, Deco, had identified Nijstad as a target to bolster the youth ranks at La Masia, but the current financial demands have led Barcelona to adopt a wait-and-see approach.
This is not the first time Barcelona have shown interest in Nijstad. In the January transfer window, the club secured the signing of fellow Dutch youth defender Juwensley Onstein from Genk and also made an approach for Nijstad. That move, however, could not be finalized before the deadline, leading to plans for a summer operation.
Nijstad is highly regarded in the Netherlands as one of the most promising defensive talents of his generation. His potential fits Barcelona's ongoing strategy of recruiting top young prospects for their academy system, a policy that has been emphasized since Deco's appointment.
The pause in talks does not signify a complete end to Barcelona's interest. The club reportedly remains keen on the player but believes it is not the right moment to push for a deal at the quoted price. Barcelona's hierarchy intends to monitor Nijstad's progress throughout the remainder of the Eredivisie season before deciding whether to re-enter negotiations.
This cautious stance reflects Barcelona's continued need to be financially prudent in the transfer market, despite their ambitions to refresh the squad. The club's primary defensive target for the senior team remains Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni, but reinforcing the youth setup remains a parallel objective.
The situation leaves the future of the potential transfer uncertain. Twente now faces a decision on whether to lower their demands or risk Barcelona looking elsewhere for defensive reinforcements. For Nijstad, the coming months represent a crucial period to demonstrate his value on the pitch.
