The first transfer bombshell of the summer is here: Arda Turan is close to joining Barcelona, who have offered Atlético de Madrid €35m to get their man.
The Turkish playmaker has a €41m release clause.
Turan and his agent had made it clear in recent days that a move away from the ‘Rojiblancos’ was on the cards, but what no one had expected was that the 28-year-old would end up at another Spanish club.
Chelsea and Manchester United had been hotly tipped as the likeliest destinations for the maverick midfielder, who wowed the Calderón crowd on so many occasions over the last few seasons.
Like Aleix Vidal, Arda will be unable to play for Barcelona in competitive action until the club’s FIFA transfer ban has run its course, i.e. until January 2015.
