Barcelona outcast Martin Braithwaite is reportedly closing in on a transfer to a Saudi Arabian club, who have offered him a lucrative contract.
According to journalist Ferran Martinez on Gerard Romero’s Twitch stream (h/t Barça Universal), Martin Braithwaite is closing in on an exit from Barcelona, with a transfer to an unnamed Saudi Arabian club on the horizon for the Dane.
The 31-year-old joined Barcelona from Leganes in February 2020 as an emergency signing amidst an injury crisis. The Blaugrana spent €18 million to land the forward, but he was never seen as a first-team regular at the club. Braithwaite did add some value to the team with his work rate and ability to sniff goalscoring opportunities.
However, the Dane has fallen completely out of favour under Xavi Hernandez, who had informed Braithwaite to find a new club back in January itself. However, the forward opted to stay and fight for his place in the side. But with Barcelona making more additions to their attacking unit this summer, he has dropped further down on the pecking order and has been placed on the transfer list.
Braithwaite had been reluctant to leave initially, but has now seemingly accepted his fate and is ready to depart Barcelona to join a Saudi Arabian club, who have offered him a lucrative contract. The 31-year-old will likely move on as a free agent, with the Blaugrana ready to terminate his contract.
? Martin Braithwaite is refusing to leave Barcelona unless they pay him every last euro of his contract. Either Barça pays off his salary and releases him, or another team matches his wages.
(Source: @mundodeportivo) pic.twitter.com/bk73MfUhIs
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 3, 2022
However, some details are yet to be worked out as Braithwaite has demanded that the Catalans pay off the remainder of his contract for him to leave the club. The Danish international still has two years left on his current deal with the Blaugrana, and is seeking the entire two-year worth of his salary before accepting a contract termination.
Barcelona are trying to negotiate a lower sum for him to leave the club, reports SPORT. The La Liga giants had initially offered him a plain letter of freedom, which he turned down. The striker has also refused to accept a one-year salary to leave the club and is holding firm on his demands, which has become an issue for the Catalans.
So, it remains to be seen if Barcelona decide to pay off Braithwaite’s two-year salary to get him off the books or consider the possibility of unilateral contract termination to force him out.
