A talented midfield player in the Barcelona set-up will leave the team this summer, providing Barcelona with a relatively discreet but significant loss.
Mundo Deportivo reports that the 19-year-old midfielder from Barça Atletic has confirmed that he has signed with Qatari club Al Sadd after rejecting Barcelona’s extension offer.
Unless last-minute surprises occur, he is confirmed to be leaving after Barça Atletic’s last First Federation match against Unionistas de Salamanca.
He will not be involved in the match thread because he has made the decision to decline the renewal.
Over the past year, Pau Prim was seen less as Xavi’s next midfield maestro and more as the first-team pivot, based on exceptional technical ability and intelligence.
The 19-year-old midfielder has since signed with Al Sadd, despite the former perception of his future potential.
In addition to positions occupied by Marc Bernal, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Marc Casado, and even Eric Garcia, the prospects of regular minutes in the first team were limited for Prim.
Al Sadd’s interest, initially sparked in January, intensified after the player was omitted from several matchday squads, making the eventuality of his exit almost a certainty.
Before being sidelined, Prim had played a total of 16 matches this season and was a driving force in stabilising Barça Atletic’s campaign.
This represents a major loss for Barcelona, a club that had hopes of Prim becoming a long-term successor to Sergio Busquets.
For Al Sadd, it’s a great coup, adding a young midfielder with limitless potential to their squad.
As Prim prepares to bid farewell to the Blaugrana, this transfer market example tells a compelling story of the difficulty young players have in breaking through and being successful in a football environment where stiff competition and reasonable financial terms can drive promising young players elsewhere.
Barça supporters will ponder what might have been for the talented young player on his way to Qatar.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
