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Barcelona reach deal to sell Ilaix Moriba

By Ernesto Hernandez

EIBAR, SPAIN - MAY 22: Ilaix Moriba of Barcelona with the ball during the La Liga Santander match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on May 22, 2021 in Eibar, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors (Photo by Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
EIBAR, SPAIN - MAY 22: Ilaix Moriba of Barcelona with the ball during the La Liga Santander match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on May 22, 2021 in Eibar, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors (Photo by Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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EIBAR, SPAIN – MAY 22: Roberto Correa of Eibar competes for the ball with Ilaix Moriba of Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on May 22, 2021 in Eibar, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors (Photo by Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
EIBAR, SPAIN – MAY 22: Roberto Correa of Eibar competes for the ball with Ilaix Moriba of Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on May 22, 2021 in Eibar, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors (Photo by Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /

Ilaix Moriba set to leave Barcelona and join RB Leipzig on five-year deal

Barcelona has reportedly reached an agreement with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig over the transfer of midfielder Ilaix Moriba.

According to ESPN, Leipzig has agreed to pay the Catalans close to their €20 million asking price for the midfielder.

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Barcelona were not going to budge from their initial position and with Tottenham also interested in Ilaix, Leipzig blinked first. The player is set to fly to Germany to take his medical.

The sale of Marcel Sabitzer to Bayern Munich opened the doors for Ilaix to join Leipzig as it freed up only a spot on the team but gave the club the necessary funds to complete the signing.

The specifics of the deal is a fixed fee of €16 million with an additional €7 million in variables.

In Barcelona’s case, it’s a good deal considering Ilaix could have sat out the rest of the season and then gone to Leipzig for free. But essentially losing a year was not something Ilaix wanted to do and so, in the end, a resolution where all parties benefitted was reached.

Ilaix leaves the club after only bursting onto the scene during the latter part of last season. He was given his senior team debut by Ronald Koeman and by all accounts was going to be a big part of his plans this season.

However, Barcelona were unable to come to an agreement over an extension as his representatives were asking for an exorbitant wage increase, which they simply could not afford.

Next. Tottenham negotiating for Barcelona right-back. dark

As a form of punishment, he was sent to train with Barça B but did not participate in any of the preseason friendlies. He now joins Leipzig where he will play Champions League football and get the opportunity to further develop.

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