Barcelona to pocket €1 million for teenage defender’s imminent move to Germany

As reported on Friday, FC Barcelona are all set to lose talented academy youngster Andrea Natali, who is on his way to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Indeed, the 16-year-old La Masia talent is set to secure a move to the German title winners imminently, and Fabrizio Romano has now brought forward more details about the operation.

Barcelona tried to renew

Romano confirms that Natali is indeed very close to completing his transfer from Barcelona to Bayer Leverkusen.

The update further adds that the German champions will pay Barcelona €1 million in compensation for the signing of Natali, which is expected to be done and dusted soon.

The teenage defender won the Under-17 European Championships with the Italian national team earlier this year and is rated highly.

At Barcelona, Natali was part of the Juvenil B outfit, for whom he made 21 appearances in the season gone by. In addition, he also played a few matches for the Juvenil A outfit.

On his way from Barcelona to Leverkusen. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

With his contract expiring at the end of this month, Barcelona are understood to have made an offer to prolong his stay at La Masia, as per Romano.

However, the 16-year-old decided against a renewal with the Catalans and has instead opted to move to Germany, where he will sign for Leverkusen.

One of the influencing factors behind his decision to join the German giants is said to be the presence of a former La Masia coach, Sergi Runge, who is the current manager of Leverkusen’s Under-17 outfit.

As such, Natali is now on his way out of Barcelona to Bayer Leverkusen, in what will be a blow for the Blaugrana, but they would stand to pocket €1 million in compensation.