Barcelona wonderkid Chadi Riad is set to leave the club on a permanent deal to join Real Betis this summer.
The 20-year-old has agreed a deal which will see him leave the Camp Nou for a fee of around €2.5m (£2.15m), but Barcelona will not be giving up full control over the player.
The centre-back is highly rated at the club, having made 37 appearances for Barca Atletic, and even made a substitute appearance in La Liga against Osasuna last year.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the deal will include a 50% sell-on clause for Barcelona, as well as a buyback option.
How does this deal benefit Barcelona?
Although Xavi rates Riad highly, describing the defender as “very aggressive,” there is currently no easy pathway to first-team action for the Moroccan.
Barcelona have a number of strong options at centre-back, and the arrival of Inigo Martinez effectively blocked any remote chance of game-time for Riad.
A sale within La Liga, whilst also retaining a large sell-on percentage and buyback clause represents good business for both player and club. Riad will join a club competing in Europe, where he will have a better chance of breaking into the first team, and if he does do well, Barcelona can gain a future fee or bring him back to the club.
As a tall left-footed defender, Riad looks like a top prospect at centre-back, and Barcelona will keep a close eye on his progress at Betis in the coming seasons.
He could still be seen as the long-term successor to Martinez in the squad, and gaining valuable experience and stability at Betis could be more beneficial for him than a series of different loan moves away from Barca.
His speed and intelligence means he is also able to cover at left-back, and he is regarded as a highly talented prospect who may prove to be a very useful asset in the future.