Latest news with #UnaiHernandez
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Danger for Barcelona as clubs from Middle East target La Masia talents
Not all talent coming through at La Masia can stay at Barcelona. Unfortunately, not every promising player developed in the club's youth system makes it to the first team. However, the years of effort and resources invested by the club's various departments can bear fruit in other ways – through sales, loan deals with purchase options, or retaining a percentage of future transfers. Advertisement Then there are more difficult cases to manage: when a player's contract ends, he refuses a renewal offer, and leaves for free, contributing nothing financially to the club. This has recently happened twice at Barça, with both those players ending up moving to the Middle East and SPORT reports that many other La Masia players have been approached by Saudi and Qatari clubs. Pau Prim to Al-Sadd Pau Prim, sidelined from Barça Atletic for months due to his refusal to renew, has just signed with Al-Sadd in Qatar. Prim, a defensive midfielder shaped by Barcelona's style and at the club for over half his life, received a lucrative offer from the Doha-based side and has signed for the next four seasons. Advertisement The player who started it all was Unai Hernandez, who left in January for Saudi Arabia. Al-Ittihad signed the former Barça Atletic captain and one of the standout players in the reserve team at the time, representing a major loss for the Catalans. Unai Hernandez left Barcelona for Al-Ittihad in January. (Photo by) Unai signed a contract through 2028 and has already won a league and cup double in Saudi Arabia within a few months, alongside the likes of Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, and Danilo. He could have waited until July to leave for free, but the agreement between Barça and Al-Ittihad brought nearly €5 million into the club's coffers. Arnau Pradas the latest The latest departure from La Masia to the Middle East involves Arnau Pradas. The 19-year-old winger, at the Barcelona academy since 2013, has just signed for Al-Wahda in the United Arab Emirates after his contract expired on 30 June. Advertisement Barça waited, perhaps too long, to try and extend his contract, and the renewal offer failed to convince the player, who opted to move to Abu Dhabi, where he has signed until 2029. There is no doubt that the Middle East poses a real threat to Barça's academy. After all, multi-year, high-paying contracts and increasingly competitive leagues serve as a strong lure.
Arab News
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Young Spanish star embraces transition from Barcelona to Al-Ittihad
JEDDAH: Although a statement addition to the Roshn Saudi League in January, Unai Hernandez had to wait a little before making his debut. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Maybe that was to be expected. The Spanish starlet, a feature of FC Barcelona's reserve side this season, only made the transition from teenager to 20-year-old man a month before he left his homeland for Saudi Arabia. Born in Barcelona, his transfer from the Spanish giants to Jeddah's Al-Ittihad represented the midfielder's first taste of the professional game outside his own country. However, a few weeks after he left La Liga for the RSL, Hernandez finally got the opportunity to show what he could do in Al-Ittihad's home clash against Al-Okhdood last Sunday. The young star was introduced at Alinma Stadium as a 76th-minute substitute, replacing Saudi winger Abdulrahman Al-Obud. For Hernandez, it was worth the wait. 'I am very happy to make my debut in this great team,' he said after the 1-1 draw. 'Since I arrived, I was really eager to play, and well, it has been a tough match where we lost these points and the victory at the end. 'But we can't relax. And we have to try to win every possible match." Despite his tender years, Hernandez already sounds like a seasoned pro. It maybe helps that he is surrounded in the Al-Ittihad squad by some of football's most decorated stars. Among them are Karim Benzema, the club captain and winner of the 2022 Ballon d'Or. Then there is N'Golo Kante, a FIFA World Cup winner. And Fabinho, who, like Benzema, is a European champion who has won the UEFA Champions League. As they have already followed the same path from Europe to Saudi Arabia, they will be crucial to helping Hernandez settle swiftly. 'I feel very comfortable with my new teammates,' Hernandez said. 'The fans also support me a lot, and that makes me happy and gives me a lot of confidence when I go out for those minutes.' Although he missed Thursday night's 1-1 draw with Al-Qadsiah, he has said before that he hopes to play a role, no matter how big or small, in Al-Ittihad's intended march to the title. With such a talented group of teammates, no doubt he is biding his time as he waits for his next chance to shine.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Internal frustrations at Barcelona over the recent exit of 20-year-old La Masia prodigy
Barcelona parted ways with promising attacking midfielder Unai Hernandez in the winter transfer window, selling him to Al-Ittihad in a deal worth €4.5 million plus €500,000 in add-ons. The 20-year-old was held in very high regard at La Masia and even made the captain of Barça Atletic this season. However, his contract stood to expire in the summer later this year and with no renewal agreement, the Catalans opted to cash in on the youngster rather than lose him for free at the end of the season. Now, Cadena SER reports that there is some internal frustration bubbling up at Barcelona over how the situation of Unai Hernandez's contract was handled. Indeed, some officials at the club believe action should have been taken earlier to secure a player of the 20-year-old talent's quality. Despite being the best player and the captain of the Barça Atletic team, Hernandez was one of the lowest-paid players in the squad. The Blaugrana had an option to automatically extend his contract for two more years, but since it was signed before his 18th birthday, the clause would have been practically void, as it could be annulled in court. Some directors at Barcelona do not understand why the youth football staff did not secure the player's future sooner, especially since he continued to play and impress with just five months remaining on his contract. Additionally, Barcelona also see the threat posed by the Middle Eastern market to their youth system. Unai Hernandez left while Pau Prim, who has not renewed his contract, also had an offer from Qatar. The 18-year-old is likely to leave once his deal runs out in the summer and has been exiled from the Barça Atletic squad in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Arnau Pradas has also attracted interest from the Middle East, although the talented winger wishes to stay at Barcelona.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Official: Barcelona confirm La Masia prodigy's transfer to Saudi Arabia
La Masia prodigy Unai Hernandez has completed a transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, FC Barcelona have officially confirmed. 'FC Barcelona and Al-Ittihad Jeddah Club have reached an agreement for the transfer of Barça Atlètic player Unai Hernandez,' the statement from the club read. 'The club wishes him the best of luck and success in the future, both personally and professionally.' 🤝 Acuerdo entre el FC Barcelona y el Al-Itrihad para el traspaso de Unai Hernández🙌🏼 ¡𝑆𝑢𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒, 𝑈𝑛𝑎𝑖!💙❤️ — Barça Atlètic (@FCBarcelonaB) January 31, 2025 Unai, 20, joined Barcelona in 2022 from the Girona youth academy and was heralded as one of the most promising young talents coming through the ranks at La Masia. A versatile attacking midfielder, the Spaniard was made the captain of the Barça Atletic team this season and had trained with the first-team setup on several occasions under Hansi Flick. With his contract on the verge of expiry in the summer of 2025, there were talks over a renewal, following which he might have even been promoted to the senior team. But the youngster has opted to move on and sign for Al-Ittihad, in a deal understood to be worth €4.5 million plus €300,000 in add-ons. Soon, Unai is likely to be followed by another La Masia gem in Pau Prim, who has verbally agreed to sign for Al Sadd in Qatar.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lamine Yamal reacts to Barcelona prodigy's move to Saudi Arabia
Unai Hernandez has officially completed his transfer to Al-Ittihad, signing a three-year contract with the Saudi Arabian club. The move had been in the works for several days, and the announcement was finally made through the club's social media channels. Hernandez's contract with Barcelona ended on June 30. Initially, the plan was to renew his agreement with the Catalan side, but the offer from Al-Ittihad prompted a change in direction for both the player and the club. Following the completion of his medical examination in Barcelona, Hernandez travelled to Jeddah, where he is set to join his new teammates under the guidance of coach Laurent Blanc. The transfer fee agreed upon for the deal stands at €4.5 million, with the possibility of increasing to €5 million if certain easily achievable performance-related clauses are met. Ramon Planes, who previously served as Barcelona's technical secretary and is now the sporting director at Al-Ittihad, played a crucial role in facilitating this transfer. His familiarity with Hernandez and insight into the player's potential made him instrumental in sealing the deal. Girona, a club with ties to the operation, is also set to benefit financially from the transaction. As Hernandez departs for his new chapter in Saudi Arabia, the move has not gone unnoticed by his former Barcelona colleagues. Lamine Yamal took to social media to share a heartfelt message for his former youth teammate. Yamal's gesture highlighted the bond between the two players, even as their professional paths diverge. Hernandez's contract with Al-Ittihad includes three guaranteed seasons, with an option for an additional two. The move represents a significant step in his career, offering him the opportunity to gain experience in a competitive and growing league. Barcelona's decision to let him go, despite initial renewal plans, underscores the impact of Al-Ittihad's lucrative offer. As Hernandez settles into life in Jeddah, all eyes will be on how he adapts to his new environment and contributes to the success of his team. The transfer marks yet another example of how the Saudi Pro League is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for promising football talent.
