Saudi Arabia puts pressure on Barça. In recent hours, we learned that the Saudi championship was going to offer a player from FC Barcelona. Not Pedri, who is expected to stay in Catalonia despite the strong interest of the Saudi authorities in his services, but Unai Hernandez. This name probably doesn't mean anything to you, but he is one of the most promising young players at Barça at the moment.
The rest after this ad
The 20-year-old midfielder, repositioned as a left winger this season, is effectively the offensive leader of Barça's B team, and he has played in every possible match, being the player most used by his coach Albert Sanchez. With 9 goals and 3 assists in 20 games, he was considered a player who could, before long, be used by Hansi Flick in the first team. Last year, he already finished the season with 10 goals, and he completed the summer tour with the first team. He was considered an important player internally, and the two sides were negotiating an extension to his contract which expires in June.
A completely unexpected departure
But now, according to all the Catalan media, he should join… Saudi Arabia. Al-Ittihad, club of N'Golo Kanté and Karim Benzema, is on the verge of offering it for a sum of between 5 and 6 million euros. The player has even already asked the Blaugrana club to let him go. A surprising departure, since even if Hernandez was perhaps not promised a future at Gavi or Pedri, everyone seemed convinced that he would at least have opportunities in A and be able to have a career in first place. division. A big loss in the short term for Barça B as well, who are struggling not to go down and risk losing their most decisive player.
-The rest after this ad
A decision that surprised people at FC Barcelona, where we did not at all expect such a sudden departure, nor towards such a destination. Above all, we fear that this will happen again in the future, as Saudi Arabia also seeks to recruit young players and not just stars or experienced players. “The petrodollars are looking towards La Masia; a warning of what may happen in the future »warns for example the newspaper Sport. If the phenomenon of players leaving La Masia for English big names has existed for years already, we are perhaps facing a new trend of exodus of young Blaugranas talents towards Saudi Arabia…
Pub. the 26/01/2025 18:00
– UPDATE 26/01/2025 23:22
