Xabi Alonso had made it clear that Jonathan Tah was his top choice to reinforce the defense. However, when Real Madrid discovered that young Spanish talent Dean Huijsen was available, Alonso shifted his focus and backed Huijsen over Tah. As a result, the German centre-back, now a free agent with his Bayer Leverkusen contract expiring this summer, has emerged as a top target for Barcelona.
According to Mundo Deportivo, new Barça head coach Hansi Flick remains determined to bring Tah to Camp Nou. The 29-year-old is attracting strong interest from both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but Flick has made a late personal push to convince the defender to choose the Catalan club.
While Tah’s excellent relationship with Alonso once made him a logical fit for Real Madrid, the Spanish giants ultimately backed away. The reason? Tah’s openness to a bidding war over wages—something that doesn’t align with Madrid’s recent transfer policy, which favors young talents on long-term deals over high-cost veterans.
Despite having secured Huijsen, El Nacional reports that Alonso still preferred to bring in Tah. But Flick’s direct contact with the player in the final hours appears to have swayed his decision.
Now, Jonathan Tah—widely regarded as one of Europe’s top defenders—is reportedly close to sealing a move to Barcelona, rejecting Madrid’s interest in favor of joining Flick’s new project.
