Pau Victor gives up on Barcelona dream, set to complete €15m transfer

Pau Victor is on the verge of leaving Barcelona to join Portugese club Sporting de Braga on a permanent deal after falling behind Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres in the club’s pecking order.

Victor is set to join Braga for a fee of €15 million (£10m/$18m) including bonuses, according to The Athletic. The forward joins the exodus of talent from Barcelona, following Ansu Fati, Pablo Torre, and Alex Valle, as the club looks to raise much needed funds.

Signed permanently from Girona in 2024, Victor and Dani Olmo were initially denied La Liga registration due to Barcelona’s financial irregularities. However, the club appealed to the National Sports Council (CSD), which ultimately granted them permission to play for the rest of the season.

The registration issues were also a key factor behind Nico Williams’ decision not to join Barcelona. 

Pau Victor  celebrates scoring a goal FC Barcelona. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Victor featured in 29 matches for Barcelona’s first team last season but he played only 379 minutes, scoring 2 goals and registering 1 assist. The move to the Portuguese club offers him a better chance at regular football while also freeing up salary space.

The transfer is in advanced stages, with the 23-year-old expected to sign a five-year contract with the Primeira Liga club.

Victor initially joined Barcelona on loan from Girona in 2023 for their B team before being signed permanently for €2.7 million in the summer of 2024.

His sale will strengthen Barcelona’s finances, frees up salary space, and will ease the club’s Financial Fair Play margin.

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford will reportedly wear the No. 14 shirt at Barcelona for the 2025-26 season after joining on loan from Premier League side Manchester United.

According to Mundo Deportivo, it has already been decided that Rashford will wear the 14 next season at the Camp Nou. The number is free following Pablo Torre’s departure this summer to Real Mallorca.

Rashford wore the 10 at Manchester United but will switch to the 14 – a number previously worn by none other than Thierry Henry at Camp Nou.