Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu has reached an agreement with Sporting Lisbon in a bid to securing a move away from Camp Nou where he’s been considered surplus to requirements.
Portuguese news outlet O Jogo report the 33-year-old has been in the Portuguese capital, where he has finalised an agreement with Sporting.
The French centre-back is one of Sporting’s summer targets and hope to close an agreement and confirm the transfer as soon as possible, the Portuguese paper adds.
Mathieu has a contract with Barça until 2018 (plus anoptional additional year) after joining the club on a four-year deal in the summer of 2014 from La Liga side Valencia.
Barça paid Valencia 20 million euros for Mathieu (his release clause) and his release clause at Camp Nou is 40 million, but the Catalan club will let him leave forfree. Therefore, they will free up some funds on their wage bill.
Mathieu is not in new coach Ernesto Valverde’s plans. He is 33 (34 in October) and after a disappointing season and the emergence and signing of Marlon Santos, he doesn’t have a future at the club.
Turkish side Fenerbahce had looked set to land him and there was also interest from Greek outfit Olympiacos, but in the end it looks like Sporting will win the race for his signature.
