Barcelona have closed the contract renewals of two La Masia graduates – report

According to Ferran Correas of SPORT, Barcelona have closed the contract renewals of two La Masia graduates in Alejandro Balde and Inaki Pena.

The two youngsters are held in high regard at Camp Nou, and their contract situations had generated some concern within the club offices.

Pena’s current deal with Barcelona runs out at the end of the ongoing season, while Balde’s contract expires in the summer of 2024.

Talks had been ongoing with the entourage of both parties over new contracts and it had been reported that the negotiations were progressing well.

Taking it a step further, Ferran Correas is now claiming that the renewals of both Balde and Pena have been closed.

It had been previously reported that Pena, who made his first-team debut this season under Xavi Hernandez, will be handed a three-year contract that will run until the summer of 2026.

The young goalkeeper has played just twice this season and even though his game-time is unlikely to improve, thanks to Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s imperious form, he is believed to be keen on continuing at Camp Nou.

Meanwhile, Balde’s new deal is expected to keep him tied down to the Catalan outfit until 2027. It is also expected to contain a mammoth release clause.

Unlike Pena, the left-back has gained a lot of prominence in Xavi’s plans this season, with the 19-year-old even usurping Jordi Alba’s spot as the first-choice left-back.

Apart from the renewals of Balde and Pena, Barcelona are also believed to have reached an agreement to extend Marcos Alonso’s contract by another year with an option for an additional twelve months.

Meanwhile, the likes of Hector Bellerin, Sergi Roberto and Sergio Busquets, whose deals expire at the end of the season, are still staring at uncertain futures as no talks have taken place with them as of yet.