Barcelona and Real Madrid fight over prodigy with BARGAIN release clause

James Shearman

• Updated: 27 Apr 2023 21:36 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona and Real Madrid are set to battle for the signature of wonderkid Hugo Sotelo, reports journalist Oscar Mandez.

The La Liga giants fought over youngster Pablo Torre last summer and could be about to again in the next transfer window.

Sotelo is a talented central midfielder, who made his first-team debut for Celta Vigo in 2021.

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The 19-year-old has only made one appearances since then but he has been in the matchday squad on several occasions.

He has played the bulk of his football in the 2022-23 season for the club's second team, registering one goal and two assists in 22 appearances.

And it comes as no surprise to those that have watched him that Barcelona and real Madrid are interested in his services.

The technician's contract expires in 2025, although Celta are preparing to offer him a new deal

Until then, though, he has a €10 million release clause which is well within the two interested club's budgets.

Barcelona's transfer tactics

Barcelona could insert a unique clause into the contracts of new signings this summer, allowing them to leave on loan if the club are not able to register them.

It’s a problem which has plagued Barca in recent transfer windows, as the Catalan giants continue to tackle their well-documented financial crisis.

The likes of Ronald Araujo and Gavi are still on youth contracts at the Camp Nou – with La Liga’s strict salary cap rules preventing Barca from registering them as first-team players.

According to Spanish daily El Mundo, the proposed clause would warn any player joining Barcelona that there is a risk that they may not be registered – and that in that event, they can go out on loan to a club of their choice.

However, the report adds that Barca would still have to honour the salary originally agreed with any player in that situation if no club was willing to take them on loan and foot the bill.