Forgotten loan star eligible to play for Atletico Madrid against Barcelona | OneFootball

As Barcelona gear up for a tough contest against Atletico Madrid in the coming week, there was much confusion and lack of clarity surrounding the eligibility of Clement Lenglet.

The French centre-back, who joined Atletico in the summer on a loan deal, has been a regular starter since Le Normand’s injury, becoming an essential part of Diego Simeone’s tactical setup.

Lenglet eligible to play against Barcelona

The burning question was whether Lenglet could play against Barcelona due to potential “fear clauses” in loan agreements that often prevent players from facing their parent clubs.

However, the absence of any such clause in Lenglet’s contract has been confirmed by Diario SPORT, paving the way for him to be available for selection this Saturday, December 21.

This development adds an intriguing subplot to the match, as fans from both sides will be keen to see how the French defender performs against his former team.

Lenglet is set to appear against Barcelona. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Lenglet’s move to Atletico was somewhat of a last-minute solution for Barcelona, who were looking to offload his substantial salary for yet another season.

In a strategic move, Barcelona agreed to extend Lenglet’s contract until 2027, which allowed for salary deferment, making his loan to Atletico feasible.

This deal saw Atletico taking on a significant portion of Lenglet’s wages, a detail that was not publicly detailed at the time but has since come to light.

Having been neglected by Barcelona for several years now, Lenglet will be determined to make a statement against his parent club by keeping their dangerous attacking trifecta quiet.

Barcelona, for their part, are banking on Lenglet to continue his performances and seal a profitable exit in the summer of 2025.