Women's Barça Are Planning Their Squad for the Next Season. The plan is clear: to keep fighting for all the titles while trying to slightly reduce the squad's expenses. Marc Vivés, the sporting director, has been working on this, having contacted the biggest sensation in Mexico a few months ago: Lizbeth Ovalle, from Tigres.
Relevo, which initially revealed the interest, has now reported that this potential operation has definitively fallen through. Lizbeth Ovalle, whose contract ends on June 30, will not be a new player for Barça, as her name has been crossed off the list. Ovalle is one of Mexico's great stars, but it is considered that she is not the best option to strengthen Pere Romeu's squad.
In any case, it must be said, the potential arrival of Lizbeth Ovalle was never considered a priority by Barcelona. Ahead of her was the German Klara Bühl, in the same contractual situation, who even visited the Ciutat Esportiva. In her case, the operation has fallen through in recent weeks because she has decided to renew her contract with Bayern.
The news has reached Barça's locker room, with all the players, including Alexia Putellas, already aware that Lizbeth Ovalle will not wear the blaugrana jersey.
First Signing for Women's Barça: Alexia Putellas Brings Her Back
Not all news is bad for Barcelona. Despite Lizbeth Ovalle being ruled out, there are other moves underway, some even close to being finalized.
At one point, Laia Aleixandri didn't find her place in the constellation of stars that formed Barça. She went to Atlético de Madrid and from there, to Manchester City. Now her contract with the citizen club is ending and she is willing, according to Relevo, to accept the challenge of returning to FC Barcelona, the team that wins everything year after year.
For Laia Aleixandri, it is a return home, because she was trained at Barça from the youth categories when she was just eleven years old.
In 2016, she won the league with Barça B alongside a top-level batch formed by Aitana Bonmatí, Claudia Pina, Gemma Font, Laia Codina, and Ona Batlle. Aleixandri will join Barça to share rotations with Irene Paredes and Mapi León in the team's central position. It is a signing that will be well received in the locker room and is already practically considered closed.