FC Barcelona is beginning to fear the possibility of letting 10 million euros slip away in the summer of 2026. The reason has to do with the future of Óscar Mingueza, for whom Barça still retains 50% of his sporting rights after his departure, at 'zero cost', to Celta de Vigo in the summer of 2022.
The player from Santa Perpètua de Mogoda was not in Xavi Hernández's plans, and Barça agreed to his departure to the Galician team, setting his release clause at 20 million euros. Half of that amount (10 M€) would go to the Barça team, which would also have the first option on the market should they decide to recover him.
Mingueza: A 'Lever' Barcelona Can't Seem to Pull
In the summer of 2025, several clubs were interested in Mingueza, who earned a starting position with Celta shortly after arriving at Balaídos. However, the defender preferred to stay in Galicia, as he feels very comfortable with the Vigo team.
In total, Óscar has played 109 matches with Celta, scoring 6 goals and providing 10 assists. For Barça, the problem with the right-back is that his contract ends in June 2026 and, if he does not renew with the Sky Blues before then or, failing that, leave via transfer to another club in the next winter market, the *culés* will lose their future sale rights.
In that sense, it is understandable that Celta are handling the renewal of the Barcelona youth player with great caution. Instead of signing a new contract, retaining only 50% of his rights, the Galician team may wait until July 2026 to offer the Catalan defender a new deal, with a salary increase and a signing bonus, already as a free agent.
This scenario, of course, also represents a risk for Claudio Giráldez's team, as it gives Mingueza total freedom to negotiate with other clubs starting on January 1, 2026. The full-back made his debut in La Liga with Barça in 20/21 and, before his departure, played 66 official matches with the Azulgrana jersey (2 goals and 5 assists).
Óscar Mingueza Feels Comfortable at Balaídos, But His Future Is Unclear
Mingueza, however, doesn't seem very convinced about moving on in 2026. In a chat with the 'SER' network, the 26-year-old player assured that, for now, he has no idea how negotiations are progressing between his agent and the Celta board to sign a new contract.
"I'm focused on doing the best I can, but at the moment there's nothing," Óscar commented. In addition, the full-back expressed his desire to stay in Vigo, as he feels very comfortable at the club. "I've been trying to make it happen for years (renewing), for one reason or another it hasn't been possible," the '3' pointed out.
As such, Barcelona will continue to pay close attention to the future of the player from Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, as the 10 million euros they would receive from his future sale are not negligible for the Barça economy. However, the *culés* are not considering bringing him back, as Eric García's good performance as a substitute for Jules Koundé has left the coaching staff led by Hansi Flick very satisfied.
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