The Portuguese striker is set to leave Sporting Lisbon, with Jorge Mendes already negotiating the deal.
FC Barcelona could benefit from an unexpected financial boost during the January transfer window thanks to the sale of Francisco Trincao. The Portuguese player is working to organize his departure to AC Milan, according to information from ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’, and the transaction is progressing without a hitch. The final sale price is expected to be around 25 million euros, including bonuses, of which 12.5 million would go to Barça, which holds 50% of the player’s sales rights. Milan are reportedly ready to accommodate this demand, and Trincao has emerged as a prime candidate to fill one of the winger positions for the Italian team.
Additionally, the recent appointment of Sergio Conceição as Milan’s head coach in December proved decisive in the club’s quest for Trincao. Milan were active in the transfer market looking for a winger who could make a difference and had several options on the table. Interestingly, one of those options was Dani Olmo, as the Italian club had contacted the Blaugrana player’s camp to express interest, in the event that he failed to secure his signing with Barca. Milan were ready to welcome him for the next six months by covering his salary, but Olmo has, for the moment, declined to negotiate with anyone.
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Milan also considered a loan move for Marcus Rashford, but his exorbitant salary made that unfeasible. Conceição then proposed the name Trincao, convinced that he was the ideal player to raise Milan’s performance level. The Portuguese player has been spectacular this season for Sporting Lisbon, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists for one of Europe’s in-form teams.
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Trincao’s contract runs until 2026, and Sporting was already in negotiations to extend it. In Portugal, it was clear that if no deal was reached quickly, the best solution would be to sell it immediately to recoup their investment. Sporting paid Barca €3 million for a one-year loan, plus €7.5 million for the purchase option, retaining 50% of the transfer rights. Barca have always kept tabs on Trincao, while several European clubs, including Manchester City and Bayern Munich, have shown interest, believing a good sale was possible.
If Trincao is sold to Milan for 25 million euros, Barça could make a total profit of 23 million euros: 12.5 million from this sale, 7.5 million from the initial purchase and 3 million from the loan fee. The operation was heavily criticized when it was signed, but ultimately, the Catalan club is on the verge of recovering almost all of its initial investment. Furthermore, this income could be vital to strengthen the squad with additional reinforcements in January, if his transfer to Milan materializes.
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