La Liga club unwilling to pay any transfer fee for exit-bound Barcelona defender | OneFootball

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, it has come to light that Barcelona are locked in tense negotiations with Clement Lenglet over terminating his contract, as Atletico Madrid have made it clear they are not willing to pay any transfer fee for the French defender.

The centre-back, under contract at Barça until 2027, is working on a permanent switch to Diego Simeone’s squad, but only on one strict condition that he must arrive for free.

Barcelona, desperate to reduce their wage bill and alleviate Financial Fair Play pressure, are unwilling to entertain another loan for Lenglet.

The 29-year-old has a high salary that the club no longer wants to carry, especially after agreeing to deferred payments during the COVID pandemic, a decision that has now inflated his current annual wage to a reported €16 million.

Atletico want transfer on their terms

Atletico Madrid, for their part, are not prepared to shoulder such a burden.

Despite Lenglet’s decent spell, where he made 34 appearances, the Rojiblancos have no intention of offering financial compensation to Barcelona.

Clement Lenglet wants to play for Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

The only path forward they see is via a contract termination at Barça, allowing Lenglet to return as a free agent and on reduced wages.

Negotiations are proving difficult, and time is of the essence. Atletico are actively pursuing other centre-back options, and Lenglet is no longer seen as a priority unless he becomes available on their terms.

What now then?

Lenglet now finds himself at a career crossroads. In order to join Simeone’s side, he must first negotiate an exit deal with Barcelona, sacrificing a significant chunk of the wages still owed over the next two seasons.

Even then, he would have to agree to a substantial pay cut to fit into Atlético’s salary structure.

Barcelona are fully supportive of a smooth exit, knowing that keeping Lenglet would create more financial strain. The urgency suits both sides, but a breakthrough will depend on the defender’s willingness to forgo part of the €32 million still due on his contract.

If not, he could find himself stuck at Camp Nou with no clear role and no competitive football, especially as Hansi Flick has no plans to include him in the squad for the upcoming season.