Ruud Nijstad opens up on failed summer move to Blaugrana as Barca prepare January bid

Ruud Nijstad, the FC Twente cardinal defender who attracted beardown involvement from Barcelona during the summertime transportation window, has spoken publically astir the failed determination for the archetypal time.

Towards the extremity of the window, portion inactive searching for a guardant of the highest calibre, Hansi Flick had besides identified the request for a cardinal defender. Aymeric Laporte was the perfect illustration connected paper fixed his acquisition and his imaginable concern with Pau Cubarsi, but convincing Athletic Bilbao was ever going to beryllium adjacent to impossible.

Barcelona made an connection for Ruud Nijstad

With that avenue blocked, the Spanish champions turned their attraction to teenage imaginable Ruud Nijstad. According to Mundo Deportivo, Barca submitted a bid of astir £6.8m for the 18-year-old Dutchman. Twente, however, had nary existent volition of letting their academy postgraduate permission astatine this signifier of his development, and the woody ne'er progressed.

Nijstad has present addressed the occurrence successful an interrogation with Dutch outlet Voetbal International.

'It is the biggest nine successful the world. If a nine similar that wants you, it is wonderful. So successful a mode it truly makes you wonderment what it would beryllium like. I was everyplace successful the news. It was interesting.' — Nijstad. 

Nijstad accepts Twente's determination with maturity

Nijstad showed sizeable composure successful addressing the failed transfer, without immoderate motion of resentment towards his club.

'I cognize determination were contacts betwixt the clubs. For the rest, I near it to my agent. I sometimes asked astir the situation, but Twente did not privation to fto maine go. I recognize that. I extended my declaration myself due to the fact that I tin inactive make here.' — Nijstad.

The Dutch Under-19 planetary signed a caller woody with Twente until June 2029 astatine the commencement of the summertime — a determination that speaks to a longer-term improvement program alternatively than an impatient hunt for a bigger stage.

Barca, however, look to person not fixed up. According to the latest from Mundo Deportivo, the Blaugrana are readying to instrumentality for Nijstad successful the January transportation window. Whether Twente's presumption volition person shifted by past remains to beryllium seen.