Barcelona youngster Toni Fernandez is set to leave the club for Serie A, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Venezia have reached a verbal agreement to sign the highly rated 18-year-old.
The Italian journalist gave his famous "Here we go" confirmation as the transfer moved into place, with Venezia agreeing to pay a €4 million fee for the Barcelona academy graduate.
The deal is also expected to include a 50% sell-on clause and a buy-back clause, protections that Barcelona sporting director Deco was keen to secure.
Notably, Venezia were not the only club pushing to sign Toni Fernandez this summer.
The Barcelona youngster had attracted interest from several leagues, with clubs from both the Premier League and Bundesliga making serious attempts to convince him.
Furthermore, Aston Villa and Leeds United were among the English sides monitoring his situation, while strong offers also arrived from Germany .
Venezia have reached verbal agreement to sign Toni Fernandez. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Toni took time to assess the opportunities available to him before making a final decision on where to continue his development.
It is to be noted that his contract at Barcelona was due to expire next summer, and Venezia's project ultimately proved the most convincing option in the closing stages of the process.
The sporting project was not the only factor behind Toni's choice.
His ability to adapt to life away from Spain also played a role, with Italy viewed as a more comfortable cultural transition than either England or Germany.
That consideration helped Venezia gain an edge over their rivals despite the interest from bigger leagues.
Barcelona will retain 50% sell-on clause for Toni Fernandez. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)
For a young player leaving his boyhood club and preparing for his first major experience abroad, the environment around the move clearly mattered.
On that note, Venezia, recently promoted to the Italian top flight, can offer Toni a platform to prove himself at a higher level while continuing his development away from Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Barcelona's willingness to sanction the sale does not suggest the club has completely closed the door on Toni Fernandez.
The inclusion of both a 50% sell-on clause and a buy-back option shows the club's desire to protect their interests if the academy graduate fulfils his potential in Italy.
It gives the Catalan club a way to benefit from his future development without blocking his immediate path towards regular senior football.
