Barcelona move for U19 Euro winner with €16 million release clause stalls | OneFootball

FC Barcelona remain interested in signing highly rated defender Jorge Salinas, but negotiations have reached a standstill after Racing Santander refused to lower their asking price, reports SPORT.

The newly-promoted La Liga club are demanding the full €16 million release clause for the young defender, while Barça believe his current market value falls well below that figure.

Gap between the clubs remains wide

According to the report, discussions between the two clubs are ongoing and could intensify once Salinas returns for pre-season after winning the U19 European Championship with Spain.

However, the two sides remain far apart in their valuations, making an agreement unlikely at this stage.

Atletico Madrid continue to monitor the situation, although Salinas is said to favor a move to Barcelona if a transfer can be completed.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jorge Salinas (@jorgesaliiinas)

Release clause dispute

Barcelona had been working alongside the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, to finalise the transfer.

The Catalan club believed Salinas’ release clause remained at €8 million until June 30, when Racing were still officially a Segunda Division side.

Racing, however, maintain that the clause automatically doubled to €16 million as soon as promotion to La Liga was secured.

Rather than entering a legal dispute over the interpretation of the contract, Barça, Mendes, and the player chose to wait in the hope that Racing would negotiate. So far, that willingness has not materialized.

Flick has approved the signing

Barcelona see Salinas as an ideal long-term addition because of his versatility and left-footed profile.

Capable of playing both at left-back and left-sided centre-back, the club’s original plan was to integrate him directly into Hansi Flick’s first-team squad rather than send him out on loan.

Flick is understood to have approved the signing, but the deal has now been placed on hold.

Jorge Salinas is eager to join Barcelona. (Photo courtesy: Instagram/@jorgesaliiinas)

While Barcelona considered €8 million to be fair value, they view paying €16 million for a player yet to make his top-flight debut as too great a financial risk.

All options being explored

Mendes is expected to continue working on a solution that could satisfy both clubs.

One possibility would involve Barcelona including academy players in the deal to reduce the overall transfer fee, an option Racing could consider as they strengthen their squad for life in La Liga.

Barcelona remain determined that, if Salinas is signed, he will stay with the first team rather than be loaned out immediately.

Should negotiations ultimately fail, Barcelona hope to maintain a strong relationship with the player and keep the door open for a future move.

The Blaugrana already have Salinas’ approval in principle, and it remains to be seen whether the defender will push for a transfer once he returns from his summer break.