Almeria land surprise agreement with Barcelona star as Spanish second-division side close in on shock coup for Camp Nou talent.
Following Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernández’s imminent PSG switch and other exits like Mamadou Mbacké, this potential January deal underscores Barcelona’s pragmatic approach to managing an overloaded engine room under Hansi Flick.
With the player’s contract ticking down, Almería’s persistence positions them as frontrunners in a race driven by the youngster’s own ambition for senior minutes.
That starlet is 18-year-old central midfielder Quim Junyent, a La Masia product from Balsereny whose consistent excellence across youth ranks—highlighted by his role in last season’s UEFA Youth League triumph—earned him first-team pre-season exposure last summer.
Hansi Flick included him in training and friendlies like the Joan Gamper Trophy against AS Monaco, but stalled progress at Barça Atlètic this term, behind stars like Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Marc Casadó, has prompted his exit desire.
Diario Sport reports Almería, led by ex-Barça coach Rubi, as best-placed, with talks accelerating and a decision imminent.
Junyent’s deal expires June 30, rendering renewal unlikely despite his lifelong Blaugrana ties—Barcelona accepts his mindset shift toward controlling his destiny.
Almería offers Segunda División exposure in an attacking system suiting his technical profile, with limited playing time at Atlètic cited as the catalyst.
The club could secure a nominal fee now or risk a free exit, but prioritise development elsewhere over retention amid their own midfield surplus.
This saga mirrors La Masia’s winter haemorrhage, testing Flick’s youth integration philosophy. Junyent’s versatility as a No. 8 or deeper pivot made him a prospect, yet fierce competition stalled breakthroughs.
Barcelona plan imminent talks—January move viable, summer free agency probable—but Almería lead suitors.
For Junyent, departing his boyhood club risks nostalgia for opportunity; for Barça, it funds priorities like Rashford permanence while preserving future sell-on clauses.
Another gem slips away, but pathways must clear for the next wave.
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