Barcelona defender’s agents met with Alemany, club want mutual contract termination

Just minutes after Sergio Busquets confirmed his departure from FC Barcelona, the future of another veteran player, Jordi Alba, has been thrown into uncertainty.

Indeed, according to a report from David Bernabeu Reverter of SPORT, Alba’s agents were in Barcelona today and held a meeting with club director Mateu Alemany.

As per the update, the objective of Barça when it comes to Alba is to agree a mutual termination of his contract, so that the veteran left-back can leave the club with the letter of freedom.

Alba has lost his place as the first-choice left-back at Barcelona this season, with Alejandro Balde firmly ahead of him in the pecking order.

Marcos Alonso will also be playing in his natural left-back slot next season with Inigo Martinez set to arrive, providing Xavi with a left-footed centre-back option. It would push Alba further down the order of preference.

The 34-year-old’s wages next season would reportedly rise to a massive €38 million, owing to past deferred payments and his incremental contract that was signed during the Josep Maria Bartomeu era.

Given the club are under pressure to lower their salary bill, they cannot afford to pay Alba so much by any stretch of imagination. As such, they are trying to reach a mutual agreement with the player to terminate his contract.

While the Spaniard has been reluctant to entertain any such proposal, recent reports suggest that there could be a change in stance as Busquets is on his way out and Lionel Messi might not return either.

As such Alba could entertain the possibility of a departure from Barcelona in the summer. If not, the other option for the full-back will be to accept a huge salary reduction so that the club can fit him on the wage bill while complying with the Financial Fair Play regulations.

It now remains to be seen whether Alba is willing to lower his salary or if he decides to depart with mutual consent at the end of the season.