Earlier this month, rumors began to surface about the immediate future of Barcelona forward Munir El Haddadi. The 19-year-old had featured in the Catalan club’s first eight matches in La Liga, but has found it hard to break into the Barcelona’s first-team once Luis Suarez FIFA-imposed ban expired.
Munir has not been involved in La Blaugrana’s lineup during a league match since November 8th when the Spanish giants took on Almeria. His only appearance over the past month was during Barcelona’s opening fixture of the Copa del Rey last week against third-tier Huesca.
Speculation began to mount that Munir could be sent on so that he could receive more first-team experience with another European club. Arsenal and Swansea City were among a few of the clubs who had contacted Barcelona about the availability of the Spain international.
But the Catalan club promised to “veto” any move for the player during the upcoming January window, with manager Luis Enrique insisting that the player would learn more from his Barcelona teammates than he could anywhere else.
Today it has been reported that Barcelona have improved the 19-year-old’s contract with the club by slapping a 35 million euro (£28 million) buy-out clause to his terms. The new deal does not extend El Haddadi’s contract beyond its current expiration date of June 30, 2017, but it has improved the forward’s wages as well as increasing the amount buyers will have to pay in order to sign him away from the Spanish giants.
The signing took place at Barcelona’s training ground, the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, on Tuesday afternoon and was announced on the club’s official website.
Munir El Haddadi is one of the world’s brightest footballing prospects. He was part of the U19 squad which won the inaugural UEFA Youth League for Barcelona, scoring a brilliant goal in the final.
A few months later he was selected for La Blaugrana’s first-team by Luis Enrique, scoring on his La Liga debut against Elche; before being called up to the Spanish national team by Vicente del Bosque, making his full debut in a game against Macedonia.
