Barca closes three loans at the same time: Vitor Roque (Betis), Lenglet (Atlético) and Álex Valle (Celtic)

Barça continue to lighten the squad and cut wage costs in order to be able to sign Dani Olmo and the players Hansi Flick wants before the market closes next Friday, August 30. Vitor Roque is the next one to leave of the club. He goes on loan to Betis for one season. And also part Alex Valle to Glasgow Celtic. Next, on an active morning at the Barça club, so there was a big return on vacation, movement Clement Lenglet to Athletic. The defender was in Madrid from Saturday and on Sunday he went to see Atlético-Girona.

Vitor Roque, 19 years old, will play this season for Betis, who will accept the entire token, with the option to extend the loan for a second season and retain the right to buy, as reported by the Barça club, who will also get it back if they wish. Joining Barca last winter, the 19-year-old Brazilian played 16 games and scored two goals in the League. This season he had changed his number (he gave Lamine Yamal’s 19) and only 17 in the preseason, but in the end he was not registered in the League.

Álex Valle defends Jack Grealish in the second half of the friendly in Orlando. / Valentine Enrich

The 29th was given to Valle and was used several times by Hansi Flick. Although he was left-footed, he used the right wing, because on the left I already had Alejandro Balde and Gerard Martin. Valle, 20, played on loan last season for Levante, in the Second Division, and has taken part in the American tour. Barça do not want to lose him at the end of this campaign, in which his contract was coming to an end and he proposed to extend the contract for one more, until 2026.

Lenglet leaves between an abundance of centre-backs and the high cost of his card, which was greatly increased when Josep Maria Bartomeu, in the season of the pandemic, extended and increased his contract in exchange for his reduction at the that time The entity’s financial problems have since led to Lenglet being loaned out every season. First to Tottenham Hotspur (22-23), then to Aston Villa (23-24) and now (24-25) to Atlético. The French centre-back is the second oldest in the squad. He arrived in 2018 from Sevilla dog cost of 35.9 million. After four campaigns, he began assignments.

Lenglet will fight with Chukwueze at the Barça-Milan match in Baltimore. / Scott Taetsch / AFP

Twelve ways out

With only two signings (Pau Víctor and Dani Olmo) in which they have invested 58 million (3 + 55 and variables), Barça has dedicated the market to promoting the departures of the players who were out of contract and did not want to renew: Marcos Alonso, Sergi Roberto, João Félix and João Cancelo. Ilkay Gündogan was allowed to leave Manchester City for free last week to save money, after free transfer to Oriol Romeu at Girona for the same reason. The other losses have left money without covering the investment: Marc Guiu went to Chelsea for 6 million (the clause), Julian Araujo to Bournemouth for 10 million y Michael Faye to Rennes with 10.3. With Valle, Vitor Roque and Lenglet there are 12 footballers who have left the entity. Others are missing.