Overview
- Bernal’s representatives held a face‑to‑face meeting with Deco at Barcelona’s training ground to discuss the player’s future and contract prospects.
- Club officials used the talks to say that a likely signing of Rodri would not close the pathway for Bernal or block his development.
- Barcelona intends to advance an improved salary for Bernal that was promised after he established himself in the first team.
- Bernal has told those close to him he prefers to stay at Barcelona but his camp wants guarantees on consistent playing time before committing.
- The move reflects Barcelona’s wider strategy to lock down academy talent by matching minutes and pay to outside interest and to avoid losing young players to big European clubs.