Barcelona have secured their first sale of the summer season, with left-back Alex Valle shifting to Como 1907. The 21-year-old has spent a second season in a row out on mortgage, and was not set for alternatives subsequent season beneath Hansi Flick.
Valle initially made progress beneath Xavi Hernandez, taking part in the 2023 preseason with the senior Barcelona group, earlier than heading to Levante on mortgage final season. He was a starter for the primary half of the season, however misplaced his spot within the second half of the 12 months with a change of supervisor. The next preseason, Valle additionally discovered himself behind Gerard Martin within the pecking order, that includes extra typically at right-back.
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Mortgage strikes for Alex Valle this season
Heading to Celtic this time, Valle shared sport time with Greg Taylor till January, when former Barcelona man Cesc Fabregas got here calling with Como. Since arriving in Italy, Valle has develop into a de facto starter for Como. As a part of the mortgage settlement, had a €6m purchase possibility, which say they’ve activated. They’ll pay €4m up entrance with an extra €2m to come back in instalments.
They weren’t the one aspect , with , however it seems that Valle was eager on a transfer to Lake Garda too.
Barcelona plans at left-back
A part of the explanation that the transfer has occurred is the progress of Gerard Martin. Regardless of struggling within the Champions League in opposition to Inter, Martin seems to have carried out sufficient to win the deputy function to Alejandro Balde, convincing Flick of his attributes.
Martin signed an extension till 2028 earlier this season, and can compete for sport time with Balde subsequent season. One other renewal lately signed till 2028 was that of , and his progress with the under-19s and latterly Barca Atletic have satisfied Barcelona that he may progress to the primary group eventually too.