Alvaro Cortes appears to be closing in on his Barcelona exit after the young defender was left out of the squad and subsequently departed the club's training ground, according to SPORT .
The 19-year-old's future has been the subject of growing speculation in recent days, with Elche emerging as one of the strongest options for the centre-back.
Notably, Cortes offered an intriguing response when a fan asked him directly whether he was heading to Elche.
"You'll find out soon,"he replied.
As reported before, Cortes has already decided to leave Barcelona after learning that the club intend to sign another left-footed centre-back, a move that would reduce his chances of regular first-team football.
Despite being a lifelong Barça fan and initially prioritising a stay at the club, the increasing competition in his position has convinced the defender that a move is the best option for his development.
Alvaro Cortes is set to leave Barcelona. (Picture credit: Instagram/@alvaarocortes)
Although not official, Barcelona's decision to leave Cortes out of the squad for the match against Athletic Club is a clear indication that his departure is approaching.
The defender is expected to head towards his new destination in the coming hours, with the club keen to avoid taking unnecessary risks with players whose transfers are close to being completed.
As per the outlet, Cortes left the training complex after what are believed to have been important hours in determining the next step in his career.
Meanwhile, there has been no shortage of interest, as Elche have pushed strongly for his signature and remain a genuine possibility, but they are not the only club in the race.
Furthermore, the outlet mentions that Deportivo, Bologna and other clubs from Serie A, the Bundesliga and Belgium have also shown interest, giving the Barcelona academy graduate several options to consider.
Alvaro Cortes could end up at Elche. (Picture credit: Instagram/@alvaarocortes)
For now, though, the final decision appears to depend on which destination offers Cortes the strongest sporting project and the best opportunity for regular minutes.
For a young defender leaving Barcelona largely because of concerns over playing time, that factor is likely to carry significant weight.
Elche's interest has been particularly strong, making them one of the most closely watched candidates.
However, with clubs across several European leagues also monitoring the situation, Cortes is understood to have multiple possibilities on the table.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are expected to protect their long-term interests in the operation, meaning that the club will retain a significant percentage of any future sale, believed to be around 50%, although the final financial details of the transfer remain to be determined.
