Real Madrid eye Barcelona star in move likened to Luis Figo transfer
In modern football, few scenarios feel as implausible as a star player moving directly between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Contracts are longer, release clauses are punitive, and the political weight of the rivalry is heavier than ever.
Even by Real Madrid’s standards, the idea being discussed would test those limits.
Recent commentary from Spain has revived speculation around a move that would reopen memories of one of the most controversial transfers in the sport’s history.
Why the Figo precedent still matters
The benchmark remains Luis Figo’s transfer in 2000, when the Portuguese winger left Barcelona for Madrid after Los Blancos activated his release clause. The reported €62 million fee was a world record at the time and instantly altered the balance and temperature of Spanish football.
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Barcelona supporters viewed the move as an unforgivable betrayal. Real Madrid saw it as a declaration of intent. Figo ultimately made 245 appearances for the club, scoring 58 goals and winning major honours including two La Liga titles and the Champions League.
More than two decades on, the episode still defines the most extreme edge of the rivalry.
Pedri link framed as ambition, not expectation
According to Spanish outlet ElDesmarque, discussion has emerged around another Barcelona player midfielder Pedri though it is framed firmly as aspiration rather than an active plan.
Journalist Siro Lopez suggested the idea is associated with long-term thinking inside the club, rather than any immediate pursuit. He described it as an “impossible signing,” but one that aligns with the personal ambitions of president Florentino Perez.
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“The player that Real Madrid wants to incorporate for the 2027–28 season, according to information that has been sent to Juan Gato, is Pedri,” Lopez said.
There is no indication of talks, offers, or formal interest from either club.
A comparison designed to provoke
Lopez explicitly linked the hypothetical scenario to Figo’s move at the turn of the millennium, stressing that the impact would extend beyond the pitch.
“You will agree with me that it would be a bomb, only at the height of what happened with Luis Figo in the 2000–01 season,” he said. “It’s not just that you reinforce yourself, it’s that you take away an essential player from Barcelona.”
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Pedri, 23, is considered one of the most influential midfielders of his generation and is central to head coach Hansi Flick’s plans. Since joining from Las Palmas, he has made 227 appearances for Barcelona and scored 28 goals.
Why a deal borders on fantasy
The practical barriers are overwhelming. Pedri is under contract until 2030 and is protected by a release clause reportedly set at €1 billion.
That figure alone is intended to end conversations before they begin.
The modern financial and political realities of elite football make a repeat of the Figo scenario vastly more difficult than it was in 2000, regardless of ambition or symbolism.
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Still, the historical echo continues to resonate. Journalist Roberto Gomez also referenced the comparison while discussing the idea.
“The player Florentino Pérez wants is Pedri,” Gomez said. “I’m just saying two words Luis Figo.”
For now, the story remains firmly in the realm of speculation. But the reaction it provokes is a reminder that certain moves, even hypothetical ones, still carry the power to inflame football’s fiercest rivalry.
Sources: ElDesmarque
