Barcelona have reportedly reached an agreement with Palmeiras to sign Yerry Mina in a €9 million deal.
According to a report by Spanish publication Sport, Barcelona have exercised their option to buy Yerry Mina, and are set to sign the Colombian defender from Palmeiras in a €9 million deal. The player, though, will continue to play for Palmeiras on loan before moving to Camp Nou in January.
Yerry Mina progressed through the ranks at Deportivo Pasto, making his senior debut for the club in 2013. But, it is in Brazil where the player has truly come into his own. The 22-year-old moved to Palmeiras in 2016, and has since quickly established himself as a mainstay for the Brazilian giants.
In the mould of a modern centre-back, Mina is comfortable on the ball and is healthy contributor to his team’s cause as well. In the ongoing campaign, the youngster has found the back of the net four times in just 18 appearances across all competitions.
His exploits have helped him become a regular fixture in the Colombian National Squad, with the player making five appearances since making his senior debut last year. Furthermore, his impressive development has helped him attract interest from some of the biggest clubs in the world.
Yerry Mina ? pic.twitter.com/XLStfNrv1x
— Palito (@DYB4L4W0W) August 18, 2017
Chief among these are Barcelona, who have been monitoring his progress for a long time. The La Liga heavyweights enjoy a fantastic relationship with Palmeiras, having already secured the services of Vitinho from the Brazilian club earlier this summer.
The two clubs had been indulged in talks for the better part of the year to clear out the future of Mina, with the earliest reports suggesting that the player would move to Camp Nou after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
But, Barcelona have accelerated the process of bringing him to Catalonia, and are considering a permanent switch for him in January, once the Brazilian season is over. Indeed, defence is a major area of concern for Ernesto Valverde, whose problems seem to be deepening with each passing day.
The Barcelona boss has little to choose from beyond his first-choice central defensive pairing of Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti, with Javier Mascheran struggling with fitness issues. Meanwhile, Marlon could be sent out on loan to gain first-team experience elsewhere.
Moreover, while Umtiti has been a revelation since joining the club last summer, Pique has been blowing hot and cold for the last year or so. Therefore, it is highly likely that Mina could move to Camp Nou as soon as the Brazilian season is over.
Nevertheless, Barcelona are set to complete the player’s signing, exercising their option to buy him for €9 million. He will subsequently be sent back to Palmeiras once the terms of the deal are clear. It now remains to be seen if the player becomes the solution to the Blaugrana’s injury woes.
