Barcelona's unexpected transfer windfall for forgotten left-back

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 23 Jul 2023 13:12 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona are set to benefit financially from FC Porto’s interest in Real Betis defender Juan Miranda, thanks to a sell-on clause they included when selling the left-back in 2021.

Miranda, 23, joined La Masia from Betis aged 14 and progressed through the youth teams at Camp Nou before back-to-back loan moves to FC Schalke and Betis. The Spanish side then purchased him on a permanent deal.

In a statement confirming Miranda’s departure, Barcelona revealed that they “retain 40% of the rights to any future sale, and a right to first refusal on resigning him.”

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With the emergence of Alejandro Balde last season, it’s unlikely that the Blaugrana will exercise their first-refusal on Miranda, but they are set to benefit from Porto’s interest in the player as they will receive 40% of the fee.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Porto are keen on signing Miranda to bolster their defensive options, while current Barcelona midfielder Nico Gonzalez is also a target for the Portuguese club. The latter has been told that he is free to leave by Barca manager Xavi and reports suggest a €10 million fee has been agreed with Porto.

As for Miranda, he has just one year left on his contract at Real Betis, which has alerted Porto, who want to provide competition for Wendell and Zaidu, who are their current options at left-back.

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Barcelona’s summer business

Xavi has added three players to his squad so far this summer, with Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez joining on free transfers, while Oriol Romeu has been purchased for €5m from Girona.

They have, however, lost Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Samuel Umtiti upon the expiration of their contracts. The former two have joined Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, and Umtiti has moved to Ligue 1 side Lille.

Antoine Griezmann (€20m) and Francisco Trincao (€7m) have left to join Atletico Madrid and Sporting CP respectively.