Hansi Flick has publicly praised Ez Abde ahead of Barcelona’s meeting with Real Betis, but the Catalan club no longer has a contractual route to bring their former winger back to Camp Nou.
According to SPORT, Barcelona’s buy-back option expired in the summer of 2025, leaving them dependent on negotiating a new transfer with Betis if they ever decide to pursue the Morocco international again.
Abde has developed considerably since Barcelona sold him to Betis for €7.5 million in 2023.
His progress has attracted attention beyond Seville, and Flick’s latest comments offer a clear indication of the impression he has made on the Barcelona manager.
What makes Abde stand out at Betis
Abde’s ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations is central to his appeal, while his capacity to contribute goals makes him more than a conventional touchline winger.
Flick specifically highlighted those qualities, offering praise for a player Barcelona once had within their own system.
“What I see impresses me. He’s a fantastic player.
Barcelona have lost their buy-back option for Ez Abde. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
“I really like the way he plays, his confidence in one-on-one in the final third of the field, and he can also score. It’s fantastic,” said the Barcelona boss ahead of the La Liga clash.
Notably, the Moroccan left Barcelona in 2023 after struggling to establish himself as a permanent first-team option.
Betis provided him with an opportunity to develop through regular football, and his subsequent progress has made him an increasingly prominent figure in the transfer market.
However, admiration from Flick does not mean Barcelona are actively pursuing a reunion.
Rather, the club’s current contractual position makes any potential move more complicated than simply exercising a previously agreed option.
Vitor Roque deal changed Barcelona’s financial stake in Abde
When Barcelona sold Abde to Betis for €7.5 million, they retained a buy-back clause and a share of any future transfer fee.
Those protections have since changed because of a separate deal involving Vitor Roque.
Barcelona retain just 20% of Ez Abde’s future sale. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
In February 2025, Betis agreed to allow Roque to join Palmeiras for a fixed €25 million, with a further €5 million in potential variables.
As part of the agreement surrounding the Brazilian striker’s departure, Betis acquired the 30% share of Abde’s future-sale rights that Barcelona had retained.
That transaction reduced Barcelona’s remaining stake in Abde to 20% of a future sale.
The change means the Catalan club can still benefit financially if Betis sell the winger, but their share is considerably smaller than it was when he first left.
Barcelona would need to negotiate a fresh transfer
Notably, the buy-back clause expired in the summer of 2025 after being agreed for two seasons.
Barcelona therefore cannot bring Abde back by activating that option and would have to negotiate directly with Betis if their interest became concrete.
Now, there was speculation about a possible return in the summer of 2025, but Barcelona ultimately opted to bring in Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United instead.