Barcelona have adopted a strategy of selling talented La Masia players this summer instead of loaning them out.
The Catalan club have transitioned to a model where they move on talented youngsters permanently while keeping control over their future.
This helps the buying club trust the player more, knowing they will not necessarily be losing him after one solitary season.
In the short term, it also helps the club generate immediate income, even if it is not substantial. One such sale set to happen shortly is that of Aron Yaakobishvili.
According to SPORT , the 20-year-old goalkeeper is already in advanced talks over a move to Almeria.
It initially looked like Barça wanted to keep the talented Hungarian in their ranks this season, but the need for regular game time has forced the club to change their stance .
Barcelona could reportedly earn between €2 million and €3 million this summer from Yaakobishvili's departure.
Aron Yaakobishvili is set to leave Barcelona. Picture credit: X/@fcandorra
The Hungarian goalkeeper has been involved with Hansi Flick's first team during pre-season and has had opportunities to demonstrate his quality, but that has not changed the broader plan for his future.
With Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny ahead of him, remaining as the third-choice goalkeeper would offer Yaakobishvili very limited competitive football.
At 20, regular minutes are far more valuable.
Almeria have emerged as the most advanced option, and a move could now be completed relatively quickly.
Yaakobishvili returned to Barcelona this summer following his spell with Andorra, where he gained valuable senior experience.
His pre-season involvement has further increased his exposure, but Barça have always understood that another move would be necessary for his development.
Barcelona are expecting to earn between €2 million and €3 million for Aron Yaakobishvili. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
If the operation becomes a permanent transfer, Barcelona would definitely push for terms that give them significant control over his future.
From the outside, it may be a bit concerning to see Barça sell so many La Masia starlets who are obviously talented.
However, with the pathway to first-team minutes limited and Barça Atlètic playing in the fourth division of Spanish football, their development will not be best served by remaining at the club.
In such a situation, a sale should not be seen as a lack of confidence in the player, but rather as a decision made with his best interests in mind.
It will not come as a surprise to see Barça buy back some of these players in a few seasons' time should they develop as expected.
As for Yaakobishvili, the opportunity to play regularly for Almeria is massive, and it remains to be seen whether this deal goes through in the coming days.
