Spanish outfit FC Barcelona have decided to withdraw from the widely-contested race to land Liverpool FC first-team regular Gini Wijnaldum, claim reports from Sport.
The Holland international had been a long-term target for the Catalan giants heading into this summer’s transfer window and FC Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman was understood to be wanting to sign his former national team player to shore up his midfield options.
However, reports suggest that the appointment of Joan Laporta as the club’s new president means that the new hiring would decide against giving the nod to splashing the cash on Wijanldum’s services and reaffirm focus towards the famed youth academy at La Masia instead.
With his current deal with the Reds set to come to a close this summer, the 30-year-old Wijnaldum’s long-term future on Merseyside remains shrouded in uncertainty amid the latest speculation of FC Barcelona’s withdrawal from the race.
FC Barcelona’s sudden change of heart could mean the intensifying of interest in the Liverpool FC player by the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, two teams who had been in the mix to open talks with the Dutchman over a potential move.