Barcelona star forward Memphis Depay nears a transfer move to become Atletico Madrid’s newest signing as talks for his departure from the Catalans are virtually over.
The SuperCopa winner Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have been bargaining for the transfer of Depay to the Wanda Metropolitano, and the deal has finally materialized as both clubs have reached an agreement on Wednesday, January 18.
According to transfer agent Fabrizio Romano, the 28-year-old Dutch International Depay is set to travel to Madrid for medicals in the next few days after both parties agreed on a fee believed to be around €3/4 million.
Memphis will sign a two-year and a half deal valid until June 2025 on his permanent transfer to Atletico Madrid.
However, the Catalans had always assumed that the 28-year-old striker Depay would not leave Camp Nou if a replacement did not arrive first.
And as part of the deal agreed upon, Barcelona has a chance to sign one of Atlético Madrid’s players at a discount price this summer.
According to several reports from Catalans news outlets, including Relevo, Barcelona has included a buy option for Atletico’s winger Yannick Carrasco for less than 20 million euros which will serve as a potential replacement for Depay.
The 28-year-old Memphis Depay who did not train on Wednesday morning with his Barcelona teammates will imminently be unveiled as a red-and-white player afterward.
Meanwhile, Atletico has been on the move to sign the 28-year-old Dutch International forward as early as last summer, but the Catalans had always turned their offers down.
Earlier, Barcelona boss Xavi who has handed Depay little playing time, revealed that he will discuss the player’s future at the club with the motive to retain him.
But the pressure from Atletico, who eventually had a full agreement with the Dutchman, is believed to have hastened the transfer.
Memphis was one of the few players Xavi met in the club and despite his little play time as Xavi seldom warmed the Dutch international forward, Depay still delivered a steady goal return of 14 out of 42 Barcelona appearances.
On the 19th of June 2021, Barcelona announced the free transfer of Memphis Depay on a two-year contract.
According to Depay’s grandmother, she revealed Depay had been aspiring to be a Barcelona player since the age of four.
The Dutch International player made his Barcelona debut on August 15 in a 4–2 league victory against Real Sociedad at Camp Nou.
And six days later, Memphis scored his first goal for the Catalans in his second match when he netted the equalizer against Athletic Bilbao in a 1–1 draw.
Atletico will pay just three-four million euros for the transfer of Memphis whose contract expires in June according to Fabrizio Romano.
The amount is considerably lower than the 7 million euros that Barcelona initially demanded but part of the deal endue Barca to sign one of Atletico’s players at a discount.
