The Real Sociedad midfielder Arsen Zakharyan, who plays for the Russian national team, was rumored to be headed for Barcelona during the winter transfer window, according to a journalist’s report. The chatter surfaced in a published article and through a telegraph channel discussion.
The report claims that Barcelona planned to sign Zakharyan in the winter of 2023 but chose not to submit an official offer to Dynamo Moscow because of the Catalan club’s financial fair play concerns.
Before the possibility of a move faded, Barcelona coach Xavi reportedly recorded a video message inviting the 20-year-old midfielder to join the squad, signaling a strong interest from the Catalan side.
Real Sociedad later announced the signing of Zakharyan on August 19, with a five-year contract. The deal would see him wearing the number 12 shirt for the Basque club in the upcoming seasons.
Earlier reports also mentioned police activity unrelated to the football transfer, noting searches around areas frequented by Zenit supporters. The information about these police actions is separate from the football negotiations and does not pertain to the players or clubs involved.