A Barcelona star is set to join Panathinaikos after the Greek club agreed a €3 million transfer deal with FC Barcelona.
With manager Hansi Flick demanding absolute clarity regarding his defensive depth, the club is prioritising a streamlined squad hierarchy over keeping disgruntled backup components on heavy wages.
While much of the summer spotlight has naturally focused on highly public midfield and attacking negotiations, the Catalan giants have quietly advanced an unexpected transaction to finalise their department between the posts.
The 27-year-old La Masia graduate closing in on this unexpected cross-border switch to Greece is none other than long-serving backup goalkeeper, Iñaki Peña.
Having found himself outside of Flick’s immediate first-team plans and eager to secure consistent starting minutes, the Spanish shot-stopper has heavily pushed to finalise his departure before the club’s pre-season preparations get underway.
According to reliable updates originating from Jijantes, formal negotiations between the two historic institutions have reached an advanced phase, with all parties expressing immense confidence that a complete agreement will be sealed over the coming days.
For Barcelona, parting ways with the academy product for a relatively modest transfer fee represents a highly pragmatic, business-minded resolution.
While the expected layout from the Greek powerhouse sits just below the €3 million mark, the primary financial windfall for the Blaugrana lies in removing his contract from their tightly regulated La Liga salary registry.
Furthermore, the sporting directorate is reportedly working to embed a future sell-on percentage clause within the final contract structure, ensuring that the Catalan club retains a substantial financial stake should the keeper enjoy a successful career arc in Athens.
The clear guarantee of securing the undisputed number-one shirt and competing for silverware in the Greek top flight ultimately swayed the player to experience a brand-new footballing adventure abroad.
With Peña’s departure virtually finalised, Barcelona successfully untangles a major squad redundancy, paving the way for a smoother administrative summer at the Spotify Camp Nou.
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