Matteo Moretto Transfer Column: Alex Baena, Franco Mastantuono, Vitor Roque and Martin Zubimendi | OneFootball

Matteo Moretto gives Football España exclusive information on the latest deals dominating the papers in Spain, as revealed in Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing.

Barcelona ask for Vitor Roque calm as Xavi maintains stance

Several days have passed since the statements from Vitor Roque’s agent Andre Cury, they were very strong declarations, in order to try and put some pressure on the situation.

From the club I’m told that they are asking for calm from the player, Barcelona’s plan is to find a solution at the end of the season. I’ve not been informed of any concrete names of teams that have moved for him. As we remarked last week, Cury has a relationship with various English teams, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur. But right now, there’s no name I can give you that want to sign him permanently right now.

There are a lot of clubs in La Liga that would be delighted to have him on loan this summer. From Xavi’s point of view it is clear, Roque has to meet with the club to decide the best course of action, and he doesn’t see him as strong option to start or even as obvious alternative up front.

Personally, this is opinion not information, I still think he could go out on loan this summer, but we’ll see.

Chelsea have enquired about starlet but Real Madrid lead race

Many teams have enquired, and are enquiring about River Plate’s 16-year-old Franco Mastantuono, Chelsea are one of them, but what I’m told is that Mastantuono only has Real Madrid on his mind – he sees it as the top option. Negotiations are in their initial stages though, and there have been contacts between Real Madrid and Mastantuono, but nothing is advanced, so there’s still a lot to be decided.

The key thing is that Real Madrid want him, his intention is to go there, even if things have to progress. Regarding reports from other outlets that Real Madrid do not want to pay his release clause, there’s a chance that other clubs come in and pay it (reported at €45m, €50m in the final 10 days of the transfer window), but they would have to convince Mastantuono too. He will speak with his club, and if necessary, work out the terms. Maybe Real Madrid will try to pay part of the fee on a fixed basis, and the rest in variables, as they have done with a number of other players.

Barcelona meetings with agents of Martin Zubimendi and Alex Baena

The Zubimendi deal is very complicated for Barcelona because of his €60m release clause and the financial situation, he also has interest in him from elsewhere. Real Sociedad are not a club that will cede ground, and the other clubs interested may well be willing, and financially able, to pay the release clause. There are Premier League clubs interested, and Bayern Munich are also keeping an eye on him – there is competition for him.

Zubimendi is delighted at La Real, all the players there are very happy, they are well looked after, but it comes down to whether someone comes in and pays his release clause. If a club comes in, pays the clause, and puts a big offer on the table, he won’t be indifferent to it either. He will have to consider that offer.

Barcelona Sporting Director Deco also met with Jonathan Barnett this week, the agent of Alex Baena, and I’m told that they touched on a number of topics, but nothing particularly in depth. They know that Xavi is very impressed with Baena, and as we reported, he could leave for below his €60m release clause. There are other teams like Aston Villa, who have been following him for a while, but with Barcelona, it all comes back to their financial situation – they must sell players first before bringing others in. If they don’t manage to do so, then other clubs move ahead of them in the race.