Barcelona studies a low-cost signing for its back line

FC Barcelona

The interest of Barça in Jorge Salinas doesn’t come out of nowhere. In Cantabria, outlets such as Arco FM and the Diario Montañés point again to the left-footed centre-back of Racing de Santander, a player born in 2007, who stands 1.87 metres tall, and this season has gained weight by also operating as a full-back.

The trail had already surfaced in January, coinciding with the Copa clash between the two teams. Back then, Salinas’ name was linked to the Blaugrana radar, and now he returns to the spotlight in a different context: Racing has earned promotion to LaLiga, and the player has had a major role throughout the campaign.

Salinas is under contract with the Cantabrian club until 2029, so any move would require negotiating a transfer. His initial release clause was 4 million euros, although that figure has risen, as the Racing president, Manolo Higuera, explained. Around the deal, talk is of a sum close to the 10 million. The name of Jorge Mendes also appears, the Portuguese agent with close ties to Deco, as a factor that could help fuel the interest.

Positive reports

The defender has played 32 of the 41 matches Racing have had this season, 30 of them as a starter, and he will be with the Under-19 national team at the European Championship in Wales, which begins on 28 June. At Barça there are favourable reports on the player, although any potential signing depends on other internal and sporting conditions.

Interestingly, Salinas didn’t end up playing against Barça in the Copa del Rey. José Alberto decided to manage his efforts in that tie and held the youth prospect back, thinking about the league clash against Las Palmas, a Segunda División rival that at the time was in second place.