Barcelona have confirmed that Marc Bartra is set to leave the Catalan club for German giants Borussia Dortmund. The Spanish centre-back had grown frustrated at a lack of first-team opportunities over the past few seasons, and Dortmund have offered him an escape by activating his buyout clause of €8 million and offering him a four-year contract, with a view to replacing Mats Hummels.
After breaking into the first team in 2010, with Pep Guardiola giving Bartra his debut against Atletico Madrid, the youngster only became a first team fixture in 2012/13 under Tito Vilanova, making 16 appearances, followed by 30 the next season.
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However, Bartra has struggled to make the team under Luis Enrique, despite the lack of central defenders at the club and even stayed n the bench when the first-choice defenders suffered injuries. Thus, Dortmund represents an excellent destination for the Spaniard, who will hope to blossom under the tutelage of Thomas Tuchel.
Barcelona confirmed the news on their website, releasing the following statement:
FC Barcelona announce that German club Borussia Dortmund have informed them of their desire to activate the buy out clause for the player Marc Bartra, according to which the Club is obliged to facilitate the transfer of the player for the price of 8 million euros.
Marc Bartra arrived at the Club at the age of 12 and is a fine representative of the values embodied by la Masia, both as a player and as a person. The defender has spent more than half his life at FC Barcelona and with the first team he won five league titles, two Champions Leagues, two Copa del Rey, two European Super Cups, two Spanish Super Cups and one Club World Cup.
FC Barcelona wish Marc Bartra all the best in his new phase of his career as a player and he will be invited to say goodbye to the fans personally at the start of next season.
Borussia Dortmund also confirmed the news, but noted that the formalities had yet to be completed, releasing this statement on their website:
Borussia Dortmund are about to sign the Spanish international Marc Bartra. BVB have agreed a four year contract until the 30.June 2020 with the 25 year old central defender. However there are still a few details that need to be ironed out with his club FC Barcelona.
