The 18-year-old defensive midfielder has had a remarkable season for Barcelona despite missing the opening months of the campaign to recover from a serious knee injury suffered in August 2024. Since returning he has made 28 appearances, scoring five goals and adding one assist, and earned the trust of coach Hansi Flick as a key part of the club's midfield.
Spanish newspaper AS reported that Atlético sporting director Mateu Alemany — formerly at Barcelona — held a meeting with Bernal's agent, Raul Verdú, raising immediate speculation over a potential summer move. Atlético are looking to bolster their midfield and have been linked with a move worth around €30 million.
Bernal is contracted to Barcelona until 2029 and holds a €50 million buyout clause.
However, Mundo Deportivo moved quickly to reframe the story. The meeting between Alemany and Verdú, the report says, was not specifically about Bernal but about establishing broader contacts with Roc Nation, the agency Verdú represents, whose client list also includes Vinícius Jr., Yan Diomande and Gabriel Martinelli.
Furthermore, Bernal himself is said to have no interest in leaving Barcelona. Flick convinced him to stay in January when Girona also tried to take him on loan, and the player has since spoken publicly of his love for the club.
Bernal's path to the first team has been unconventional. He was promoted to the senior squad in the summer of 2024 and started Barcelona's first three La Liga matches before the ACL injury ended his season. He returned last September and has not looked back, scoring his first Champions League goal in the 7-2 demolition of Newcastle in March.
Barcelona consider him a long-term cornerstone. The suggestion that a significant offer could prompt a rethink has not gone away entirely — but for now, the Atlético connection appears far less concrete than first reported.