FC Barcelona have reached a principal agreement with a star defender amid high competition from Europe’s elite clubs.
With Deco and Hansi Flick aligned on building a long-term core around emerging prospects, talks with one highly-rated teenager have been treated as a priority in recent weeks, especially with his current deal running down and a modest release clause leaving the door open for opportunistic bids.
A meeting held at the end of last week between the player’s entourage and the sporting department has pushed negotiations forward, signalling the board’s conviction that this versatile defender-midfielder hybrid can become a pillar of the project in the coming seasons.
The player in question is Juan Hernández, an 18-year-old regarded internally as one of Barcelona’s most promising young defenders, who has shone this season with Barça Atlètic while regularly training under Hansi Flick with the first team, as reported by Diario Sport.
His current contract runs until June 2026 and includes a relatively low €6 million clause activated when he turned 18, a figure that has already attracted monitoring from clubs such as PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
Despite that, Hernández has been clear that his priority is to stay at Barça and succeed at the club he grew up in, even as his camp pushes for a deal that reflects his growing status and pathway to senior minutes.
Last Friday’s summit between Barcelona officials and Hernández’s agent produced “slow but positive” progress, with both parties moving closer on salary, contract length, and the removal or significant increase of the current release clause.
In a market where Europe’s richest clubs are circling, tying down Hernández is viewed as a strategic win both on the pitch and in the boardroom.
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