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An FC Barcelona star has agreed to leave the club and join Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League … [+] according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
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An FC Barcelona star has agreed to leave the club and join Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League according to various outlets including SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
Unai Hernandez landed in La Masia at the age of 11 from its Girona counterpart, and continued advancing through the age categories before making his debut for the reserve side – then still known as Barca B – in 2022.
This season at Barca Atletic, as the second team is called these days, he has been its most prominent appearance maker with 20 outings that have yielded nine goals and three assists.
Breaking through to Hansi Flick’s senior side has been as difficult as it is for any youngster in and around the club, with midfield perhaps the toughest nut to crack given the wealth of talent on offer there.
Starting XI regular Marc Casado is a living and breathing example of the fact that the transition can happen for some, though, and Hernandez being taken on the preseason tour of the United States last summer for friendlies against the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid could be taken as proof that he had done something to impress Flick in training.
It now seems as if we’ll never know whether the 20-year-old will follow in Casado’s footsteps, because Hernandez is forcing a move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Pro League outfit which also boasts Karim Benzema and is second to Neymar’s Al-Hilal in the local top flight has former Barca Sporting Director Ramon Planes occupying the same role in the Middle East.
In recent days, Planes has contacted Hernandez’s entourage to sound out a potential move which SPORT says should cost around $6.3 million (€6 million).
The operation has advanced to the extent that Hernandez asked Barca B head coach Albert Sanchez not to be included in the team that faces Ourense at the weekend because of the ongoing negotiations.
This caused Sanchez to publicly blast the player, who has a brother in the Blaugrana youth ranks named Unax that currently captains the U14s.
“The fact that Unai did not play is because he does not have his head here. He is not thinking even with his head in the team, so he is a player who did not serve us today,” Sanchez said after the 1-1 draw.
“I’m not here to talk about exits,” Sanchez began when asked about the transfer once more. “I know that until the 30th we are in market time. We thought he wasn’t ready to play the game and that’s why we didn’t put him in. A player who is not focused on the team does not contribute anything to us.”
With Hernandez only boasting a contract until June 30, however, it is better that Barca cashes in on him now as opposed to losing him for free in just over five months’ time.
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