Barcelona pave way for Bruno Alves purchase

FC Porto centre-back set for Camp Nou switch

European champions Barcelona are expected to make a formal offer to buy FC Porto and Portugal central defender Bruno Alves this week. The Catalans have long been credited with a desire to bring in the defender voted Player of Season in Portugal in 2008/09.

Porto president Pinto da Costa has repeated on various occasions that he will not budge from the 30m-euro buyout clause in Alves’ contract.

Part-exchange deal

In order to bring down the price, Barcelona hope to include Henrique in the deal. The 22-year-old South American was bought by the Spaniards one year ago for eight million euros, and was curiously linked with a move to Porto last season.

On that occasion negotiations did not get underway because the Catalans were keen to recoup their investment and Porto were unwilling to meet such a high price.

Therefore, a move involving both centre-backs swapping clubs could now be on the cards, with Porto’s asking price appearing to be the only stumbling block.

Alves himself has made it clear he feels the time is ripe for a move abroad, and Sport says Barcelona have drawn up a 5-year contract for the powerful defender, who will earn a salary of 2 million euros a year.

by Tom Kundert