Barcelona reach agreement with Serie A side for loan with option to buy for | OneFootball

Barcelona have agreed to send young left-back Alex Valle to Como in Serie A on loan. The 20-year-old spent the first half of the campaign at Celtic, following a loan spell at Levante last year.

The young left-back first caught attention in preseason of Xavi Hernandez’s final season, appearing on their tour to the USA, before heading out to join Levante last year. Following a good first half of the campaign, he struggled for starts after a change of manager. This year at Celtic, he has battled with Greg taylor for first-team minutes, appearing in 19 games and contributing 5 assists. In total, he played 1,014 minutes under Brendan Rodgers.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that that loan will be ended though, as Barcelona have reached a deal for Valle to move on loan to Cesc Fabregas’ Como for the rest of the season. The deal also means the return of former Real Sociedad left-back Kieran Tierney from Arsenal to Celtic, although it is not yet clear whether it will be now or in the summer.

In contrast to the deal at Celtic, Como will have a buy option on Valle. They can purchase the defender for €6m at the end of the season if he impresses them sufficiently.

Valle had been tipped as a potential first-team prospect, but having renewed his deal until 2026 in August, Barcelona are likely facing a decision on whether to hand him a longer contract and a role next season, or look at selling him next summer. Sporting Director Deco has made it a policy to ensure that no player enters the final year of their deal, so any extension will have to come in the next six months, when his future will be defined one way or another.

The Blaugrana recently announced a renewal until 2027 for left-back Gerard Martin, and Hansi Flick trusted the former Cornella man as Alejandro Balde’s back-up this season. The latter looks like he will the starter for the foreseeable, and Valle may want more regular football.