Portuguese striker Francisco Trincao has joined Barcelona from SC Braga on a five-year deal until the end of the 2024/25 season. The Spanish club has agreed to sign the forward for £26.1million (€31m) with a buy-out clause of €500m (£420m). The Barcelona future striker will move to Nou Camp in the summer (July 1).
🔜 Francisco Trincão
Agreement with @SCBragaOficial for Trincão transfer; he'll join FC Barcelona on 1 July 2020.— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 31, 2020
Trincao started his career with Vianense and FC Porto youth teams before moving to SC Braga. On 28 December 2018, he made his first team debut for the Portuguese club against Vitoria FC in a league cup match. Since his debut, Trincao has made 29 appearances for the first team, scoring three goals.
In the current season, he has established himself as a key part of the team, scoring three goals and providing six assists in 21 matches for Braga who sit fifth in the Primeira Liga table. The Portugal Under 21 was part of the side that won the Under-19 European Championships in 2018.
Trincao can play as a striker or a supporting striker. He can also play at the wing, on either flank despite being left footed which has done with Braga this season. The striker is quick and technically gifted with a vision that means he is a great creator of goals as well. The new Barça player also has the ability to take defenders on with his dribbling skills.
Barcelona have been in the hunt for a new striker and are desperate to boost their striking options after Luis Suarez was sidelined for the next four months following knee surgery. The La Liga side have been linked to Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Valencia forward Rodrigo Moreno, Chelsea forward Olivier Giroud and Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez.
New Barca manager Quique Setien is said to be eager to settle for Martinez who’s enjoyed a breakout season at the San Siro. However, the striker has a high release clause around his neck which is reportedly around €111 million and would prove to be an issue.
The 22-year-old has scored 10 goals and assisted three in 20 Serie A games this season while forming a prolific partnership with former Manchester United player Romelu Lukaku. Aubameyang has 18 months left on his deal at the Emirates Stadium and the La Liga leaders were reportedly interested in a loan deal earlier in the window.
However, Arsenal don’t want to sell and with Aubameyang turning 31 in June, the Catalan giants are likely to look for a younger option.
RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner has proven worthy, as he’s every top club in Europe lost and the Bundesliga’s top scorer has caught Barca’s interest. Another options which could be seen as a short term fix include Ezequiel ‘Chimy’ Avila from Osasuna.
