Spanish prodigy with €16 million release clause remains determined to join Barcelona | OneFootball

According to Gerard Romero, as relayed by SPORT, Jorge Salinas remains determined to join Barcelona despite negotiations slowing in recent weeks.

The Catalan club are unwilling to meet Racing Santander’s €16 million asking price, but those close to the player remain confident that an agreement can be reached before the summer transfer window closes in August.

Salinas wants Barcelona but won’t force exit

Salinas, who recently won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship with Spain, continues to prioritise a move to Barcelona.

However, the versatile defender has no intention of forcing his departure from Racing, the club he has represented since childhood.

A product of the club’s academy, he played his part in helping Racing secure promotion back to La Liga after a 14-year absence.

Jorge Salinas wants to join Barcelona. (Picture credit: Instagram/@jorgesaliiinas)

The youngster agreed to the move as early as June, but negotiations have lost momentum following the increase of his release clause from €8 million to €16 million.

Barcelona refuse to match Racing’s valuation

Barcelona remain interested in signing the 19-year-old but do not believe the current asking price represents good value for a defender who has yet to make his senior debut at the highest level.

Racing Santander, meanwhile, have adopted a firm stance and are unwilling to sell one of their brightest academy prospects for anything less than his release clause.

In an attempt to lower the overall cost of the deal, Barcelona have even proposed loaning several players to Racing, including highly rated left-back Jofre Torrents.

Jorge Salinas has a €16 million release clause. (Picture credit: Instagram/@jorgesaliiinas)

The Spanish club, however, have so far insisted on keeping the two negotiations separate.

Talks could continue until the end of August

Salinas is currently enjoying his summer break after helping Spain win the European Under-19 Championship in Wales on 11 July.

He shared that successful campaign with Barcelona academy players Xavi Espart, Quim Junyent and Andres Cuenca, although the latter two have since left the club.

The 19-year-old also spent several days in Porto, where he visited the offices of Gestifute, the agency run by his representative Jorge Mendes, to discuss his future and assess the next steps in negotiations that are expected to continue well into August.