Problem without solution? Barça rules out another loan with Lenglet

Published New:20/05/2025 - 01:41h

Updated New:20/05/2025 - 01:41h

Barça still has not defined Clément Lenglet's future. The Frenchman will return in July after a year on loan at Atlético

The FC Barcelona board has a serious problem with Clément Lenglet. The 29-year-old defender will return in July after a season on loan at Atlético de Madrid, where, beyond having earned a starting position, he does not seem to fit into the club's financial planning for next season.

And it is that, although Diego Simeone is happy with Lenglet's performance in 24/25, the club is not willing to assume his very high salary next season. Barça is willing to accept even less than 10 million euros for his definitive transfer, but again his salary is the main obstacle to finalize his departure.

Atlético is not willing to assume Lenglet's salary

Clément has a contract with Barça until 2027 and his gross salary is 16 million euros, one of the highest in the culé squad. Hence, the azulgrana team rules out a new loan, since this, instead of solving the problem, postpones an unsustainable situation for the Catalan wage bill.

Although loan departures allow Barça to free up a place in the squad, the club always ends up assuming a majority percentage of the defender's salary. Being exceeded in its 'Fair Play', the team cannot afford to continue carrying such a high salary, much less for a player discarded three years ago.

A similar scenario occurred after his time at Tottenham (22/23) and Aston Villa (23/24), teams where he also performed at an acceptable level. In the 'colchonero' team, the Frenchman has accumulated a couple of goals and assists in 33 games (2,786 minutes), with 22 starts in Liga and another 7 in Champions League.

The player from Beauvais will turn 30 next June, but insists on remaining active in one of the major leagues in Europe. This factor has prevented Barça from resolving his transfer to Arabia, although clubs such as Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr have contacted him.

Thus, everything indicates that Clément, for the third consecutive summer, will report to the azulgrana pre-season waiting to find a team next season. However, Barcelona needs to resolve his departure as soon as possible, this time definitively.