Barca transfer news: Memphis Depay set to join Atletico Madrid – 4th high-profile player to join from Barça

Another Catalan gift? 

There is not a transfer window in which Memphis Depay is not changing clubs, it seems. After joining Barcelona from Olympique Lyon 18 months ago, the Dutch striker is once again on the move as he is on the verge of joining Atlético Madrid. Marca, Mundo Deportivo, and Sport reported that Atleti have agreed personal terms with the 28-year-old forward. One obstacle, however, has been Barcelona. The Catalans refused to allow the striker to leave on a free transfer. 

Barça, where Depay has featured in just eight games (four goals and one assist) want to receive a transfer fee, which, in turn, would allow them to sign a new player on the transfer market. Atlético Madrid, however, refused to pay a substantial fee for the striker, especially as Depay would be available on a free transfer. 

It now appears that both clubs have found a solution to that problem. The Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri reported that Atletico’s winger Yannick Carrasco could go the other way. A report that has been confirmed by Carrasco’s agent Pini Zahavi in an interview with the Belgian paper Nieuwsblad. “The plan is to trade Carrasco for Depay,” Zahavi said. “It isn’t concrete, and we don’t know whether it will happen, but we are in talks, and Yannick likes the idea.”

Depay to Atletico Madrid – Carrasco set to go the other way?

Since the interview, both Mundo Deportivo and Relevo have confirmed that Depay is now set to join Atlético. Whether Carrasco will head the other way, however, remains to be seen. The Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday that Barcelona will receive around €3m for the Dutch striker and that Depay will sign a contract until 2028. Depay missed Barça’s training sessions on Wednesday, which is another indication that a deal is now done. 

Once completed, Depay will become the fourth high-profile player to join Atlético Madrid for a relatively low fee from Barcelona. Atleti purchased David Villa for just €2.1m in 2013 and Luis Suárez for €9m in 2020. Both strikers would later become key players in Atleti’s championship seasons in 2014 and 2021. 

Then there is the case of Antoine Griezmann. The French forward joined Barcelona from Atleti for €120m in 2019 but returned on a €10m loan fee in the summer of 2021. Griezmann’s deal will be made permanent for another €20m this summer, gifting Atleti a €90m transfer profit. In Depay, Atleti have now signed another high-profile player for a low fee from their direct competitor.

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