


FC Barcelona announced an outgoing transfer not long after learning who its Champions League league ... [+]
FC Barcelona announced an outgoing transfer shortly after learning who its Champions League league phase opponents in 2024/2025 will be.
"FC Barcelona and FC Porto have reached an agreement for the transfer of Angel Alarcon," a statement on the matter sent to members of the press read.
"The Barcelona club reserves 50% of a future sale of the player. FC Barcelona publicly expresses its gratitude to Angel Alarcon for his commitment and dedication and wishes him good luck and success in the future, both personally and professionally," it added.
On its official website, Barca noted how Alarcon joined the Blaugrana from cross-city rival Espanyol's youth academy to play for La Masia.
His leap to the U18s came ahead of schedule in 2020/2021, and he also debuted with the Barca Atletic reserve team - then known as Barca B - around the same time.
Unfortunately on the last game of that campaign where the now 20-year-old made such strong progress, Alarcon ruptured his ACL during a Catalonia league semifinal and missed the whole 2021/2022 term.
In 2022/2023, however, Alarcon enjoyed a debut with the first team during an away clash against Cueta in the Copa del Rey though injuries continued to halt his trajectory.
Alarcon notched four senior appearances overall on the watch of now-fired former head coach Xavi Hernandez, and 2023/2024 saw him feature for Barca Atletic on an also-departed Rafa Marquez's watch 12 times.
Moving to Porto could prove a masterstroke for the forward and his career, with the Portuguese outfit one of the best clubs in Europe for young talents.
Heading west to the Dragões has certainly done another La Masia product in Nico Gonzalez no harm after he signed a five-year contract with the Primeira Liga giants in a reported $9.4 million (€8.5 million) deal last summer.
Though suffering initial teething problems there, Nico is now a starter in Porto's midfield and even scored on the half hour mark in its 2-0 victory over Rio Ave last weekend.
Nico is meant to have a buyback clause in his terms, and though it doesn't appear that there is a similar arrangement as per Alarcon, Barca still retains 50% of his rights which might prove a wise move if he fulfils his potential elsewhere on the Iberian Peninsula.