Konrad De La Fuente is getting a chance to train with Barcelona’s finest.
Fresh off helping Barcelona B come very close to earning promotion to the Spanish second division, U.S. Men’s National Team prospect De La Fuente was one of four Barcelona B players brought in to train with the first team as part of its preparations for the UEFA Champions League.
De La Fuente has yet to make his first-team debut for Barcelona, but has made the jump from Barcelona’s U-19 team to Barcelona B, and he recently signed a new contract with the Catalan side until 2022. Barcelona also has two additional options to keep the young winger until 2024 with a buyout clause of €50 million.
“I am very happy to stay at the best club in the world,” De La Fuente said back in June. “It has always been my dream to play for the first team, and that is why I want to stay here – to try to achieve it”
De la Fuente, 19, was promoted to Barcelona’s B team in May and came close to helping them achieve promotion to the Segunda Division this summer. The 2019 U.S. Under-20 World Cup starter scored three goals and added one assist in six combined appearances for Barcelona B, while also featuring in the UEFA Youth League in 2019.
Internationally, De La Fuente has made nine appearances for the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team, scoring one goal. In total, De La Fuente has made 24 combined appearances at the USMNT youth ranks, scoring six goals. He is still awaiting his first senior call-up to the USMNT under Gregg Berhalter.
Barcelona hosts Serie A side Napoli in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash, holding the away goals tiebreaker with the aggregate sitting at 1-1. The tie is scheduled to take place on Aug. 8th at the Camp Nou.
Rather remarkable. A $50 million buyout shows they must really value him. If he gets first team minutes in the future, he should certainly be called into a national team camp.
Parks had a $45 million buyout and look where he is now.
Barca B had a couple injuries which is why Konrad started in the promotion playoffs after only three matches with them during the season. Griezmann and Dembele are currently only doing individual work. Konrad isn’t likely to play anytime soon, but he’s got an opportunity, and he showed well with 2g and 1a in the playoffs. Even if he gets a loan to a good league he should see minutes if he’s playing 1st team football.
$50 million is pretty much the lowest buyout offered by Barca (Spanish contracts require buyouts, and Barca has realized it does nothing for them to set the number too low). For example… ever heard of Francisco Trincão? Recently acquired by Barca — His buyout is $550 million. It doesn’t mean much.
Feels like when you go to a restaurant and kids meals are $10, their not saying you can’t bring kids but… High buyouts say only serious suitors need only apply, they don’t want be fielding calls all day from clubs all over the world trying to get cheap Barca Academy players. They’ll sell players for less than the buyout but you better make a realistic offer.