Barcelona outcast Clement Lenglet is reportedly closing in on joining Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr in the coming days.
According to Guillermo Rai and Pol Ballus of The Athletic, Clement Lenglet will soon leave Barcelona. The 28-year-old is closing in on joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. While the two clubs have not finalised a deal yet, the out-of-favour defender appears on the verge of completing the move to the Middle East.
Clement Lenglet joined Barcelona from Sevilla in a deal worth €35 million in July 2018. The Catalan club launched the offensive for him after a successful debut season at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. And the French international began his Barcelona career strongly, taking little time to establish a foothold in the first-team squad.
But the initial high disappeared after some time as his performance levels started dropping. And he gradually tumbled in the pecking order, becoming a bit-part player for Barcelona. So it was hardly surprising when the Blaugrana decided to loan him out to Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan deal last summer.
The 28-year-old turned out 35 times for Tottenham Hotspur last summer, chipping in with one goal and two assists. And while he blew hot and cold at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the North London club wanted to sign him on a permanent deal. The player was also keen on moving to the Premier League outfit.
But the agreement was nowhere to be seen between Tottenham and Barcelona. And with Barcelona demanding a price that the North London outfit deemed excessive, the move collapsed. However, Lenglet’s future has not remained uncertain for long, with Al-Nassr emerging as his next destination.
The Saudi Arabian giants have been busy acquiring players from European clubs, with Sadio Mane, Alex Telles, and Seko Fofana joining them. Meanwhile, the deal for Lenglet seems close. While Al-Nassr and Barcelona have not sealed an agreement over the transfer fee, they are on the verge of a consensus.
Barcelona will not recoup anything close to the €35 million they paid to secure Lenglet’s services from his sale. Nonetheless, the French international will soon embark on a new challenge, with Al-Nassr on the verge of signing him.