Valencia's Alcacer joins Barca

Barcelona (AFP) – Spain international Paco Alcacer has joined Barcelona from Valencia in a 30 million euro (£26 million, $33 million) five-year deal, announced the Catalan giants on Tuesday.

“Valencia’s Paco Alcacer is now a Barcelona player and has signed a five year contract.” said Barcelona in a press release.

The fee for the 23-year-old will be £26 million pounds with an additional two million in add-ons.

Barca striker Munir-El-Haddadi is also thought to be part of the deal as he transfers to Valencia on a year long loan with a 12 million euro (£10 million) buy out clause at the end of the loan. The 20-year-old scored eight in 25 appearances for the Spanish champions last season.

Alcacer completes Barcelona’s attacking quartet and will largely be used as backup to Barca trio Messi-Suarez-Neymar known as MSN.

Alcacer scored 13 goals in 34 appearances for Valencia last year and also made six assists. The youngster was also a double Euro winner with the Spanish Under-19’s in 2011 and 21012.

Known as “Paco” he has had an equally flying start to his international career with la Roja (13 appearances, six goals). He was Spain’s most prolific goalscorer during the qualifications for Euro 2016 netting five times.

Alcacer leaves his boyhood club Valencia with whom he started his professional career in 2010 when he was just 17-year-old.

The young Spaniard will have the difficult task of breaking into Barca’s attacking line-up but coach Luis Enrique is expected to give a lot of game time in order to rest his star front three.