Barcelona have reportedly paid €1.5 million as compensation to terminate the contract of centre-back Clement Lenglet, who has now signed for their La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid on a free transfer.
Lenglet, 29, spent the last season on loan for the Rojiblancos, contributing three goals and two assists in 34 outings across competitions. That includes two goals and an assist in 23 games in the league, where Diego Simeone’s side finished third, behind champions Barca and second-placed Real Madrid.
He also had a goal and an assist in four matches in the Copa del Rey, where Atletico lost 5-4 on aggregate to eventual champions Barca in the semis following a 1-0 second-leg home defeat.
With Barca looking to offload the Frenchman’s wages off their books, they paid out €1.5 million to terminate his contract, as reported by Jijantes (via Barca Universal). Lenglet’s previous deal was scheduled to expire in 2027. The early termination is said to free up over €12 million in salary space for the next two seasons for a club whose financial woes are well-documented.
As per ESPN, the former Barca man has signed a three-year deal with the Rojiblancos and is set to feature for them in the upcoming new-look FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. The Rojiblancos open their campaign against recently crowned UEFA Champions League winners PSG on Sunday (June 15) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Barcelona enjoyed a superb campaign under Hansi Flick, who replaced the legendary Xavier Hernandez at the Camp Nou helm last summer. The former Bayern Munich and Germany tactician produced a memorable first season in Spanish football.
Flick’s side captured the domestic treble, clinching the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Supercopa Espana titles. In the latter two finals, Barca beat their arch-rivals Real Madrid in the final, winning all four El Clasicos against the Madrid-based side.
They were close to qualifying for the UEFA Champions League final but went down 4-3 in extra time at home in the semi-final second leg against Inter Milan, losing 7-6 on aggregate, having led 3-2 on the night with minutes of regulation time remaining.
Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.
Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.
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