Barcelona negotiating contract termination with forgotten defender ahead of Atletico move | OneFootball

Having enjoyed a solid season on loan at Atletico Madrid, Clement Lenglet is eager to secure a permanent move to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano from FC Barcelona.

The French international wants to play for the Rojiblancos at the FIFA Club World Cup starting next month and is hoping to resolve his future before then.

Barça and Atletico, for their part, are also accelerating efforts to come to a mutually beneficial agreement for the seasoned defender.

Talks underway over contract termination

Now, according to Luis F Rojo of MARCA, Lenglet and Barcelona are currently negotiating the termination of the French defender’s contract, which is set to run until June 2026.

These talks are not straightforward, as the 29-year-old is on a high salary – earning €16 million gross per year.

This figure stems from one of the final renewals made under Josep Maria Bartomeu, during which player wages were deferred in response to the club’s financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contract termination for Lenglet? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

This inflated salary has already prevented Lenglet’s permanent transfer in previous windows. As a result, he has repeatedly gone out on loan, as neither Xavi nor Hansi Flick counted on him.

The situation is now different. With just one year remaining on his deal, it becomes more feasible to spread out or reduce the salary over time – or at least a portion of it.

Atletico Madrid are keen to make his move permanent in time for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. And the player and Barcelona hope to finalise the contract termination before that tournament begins.

For Barcelona, resolving this issue is also crucial in terms of financial planning. The club continues to operate under tight constraints with regard to La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations.

High-profile contract renewals, such as that of Lamine Yamal, take up significant space in the wage structure. Offloading Lenglet’s €16 million salary would provide valuable relief and flexibility in the upcoming transfer window.