Barca News Network
·24 December 2024
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Yahoo sportsBarca News Network
·24 December 2024
In the last few years, FC Barcelona have promoted several youngsters from their youth academy to the first team. Only in the current team, the likes of Inaki Pena, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Casado, and Lamine Yamal, who have all been promoted from La Masia to the first team, are all fixed starters.
However, there have also been some players who showed very good projection and development trajectories as they got chances with the first team in the last few years, but were unable to carve out a long-term role in the first team.
One such player was Ilaix Moriba, who made 18 appearances with the Blaugrana first team under Ronald Koeman, providing 3 assists and scoring 1 goal. However, he left Barcelona in the summer of 2021 to join RB Leipzig for €16 million fixed and another €6 million in variables, as he could not come to an agreement for a renewal with the Catalan side.
In addition to getting this fee, Barcelona had also kept a 10% sell-on clause on the midfielder, but Moriba’s value did not really improve as he struggled at Leipzig, as well as on his loans to Valencia and Getafe.
However, this season, he is playing on another loan at Celta Vigo, where his performances have been significantly better. Moriba has already become an important part of Claudio Giraldez’s team, and has started the last five consecutive games. He was particularly excellent in the games against Mallorca and Real Sociedad, helping his side win both of them.
In such circumstances, SPORT reports that Celta Vigo can take advantage of the option to buy him permanently at the end of his loan, for a figure around €5-8 million, although it has not been officially disclosed by the involved clubs.
Such a possibility will also benefit Barcelona, as they would get 10% of any transfer fee paid for the player.