Gonçalo Inacio, one of Barcelona’s targeted centre backs, has decided to extend his contract with Sporting Lisbon until 2030, which is a blow to the team’s efforts to bolster their defence.
The Catalan giants’ scouting department had been keeping a close eye on the Portuguese defender’s progress for several months in preparation for the summer transfer window of next year.
Given his profile, Inacio has long been revered internally. He was the ideal candidate for Barça’s sporting management because he is a left-footed central defender with good distribution and substantial experience in European competitions.
However, Hansi Flick had other centre-back alternatives listed higher for the upcoming season, thus he was never seen as an imminent priority.
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Nevertheless, given that his previous deal was scheduled to end in 2027, the Catalan club saw him as a valuable market opportunity.
Sadly, that chance has since diminished. According to Barca Universal, Inacio has essentially closed the door on a good deal for Barcelona by agreeing to a renewal through 2030.
Inacio’s Release Clause Remains The Same Despite Contract Renewal
Sporting Lisbon’s negotiation position is strengthened by the length of his new deal, even if his €60 million release clause is still in place.
He had been followed by Barcelona scouts on several occasions, and Deco had heard good things about his development and versatility.
Inacio, who is 24 years old, had a profile with potential for both future growth and present worth.
However, the contractual extension drastically changes the situation, making it less likely that Barcelona would take any meaningful action very soon.
The door hasn’t been completely closed, though. The €60 million clause was purposefully left in place by Inacio’s camp, so a transfer is still theoretically feasible.
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