Barcelona sporting director Deco met this week at the club’s offices with the agents of Jan Virgili, who plays for Mallorca. MARCA reports that the meeting was introductory; formal negotiations over a buyout have not begun, and no decision has been made about the winger’s return to the Catalan club. Buying him back for a future resale is one of several scenarios under discussion.
The parties also discussed other players represented by Virgili’s agency. Last summer, Barcelona sold the young winger to Mallorca, retaining 40% of his rights and future transfer income, along with a priority buyout option. After Mallorca’s relegation from La Liga, Virgili’s release clause automatically fell from €30 million to €12 million. A potential deal would so be considerably more advantageous for Barcelona: the club could bring him back for around €7 million, then resell him at a higher price. His market value is estimated at €15 million.
Barcelona does not plan to keep Virgili in the first team. The left flank has already been strengthened by the €70 million transfer of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle, while Marcus Rashford’s situation remains unresolved. His loan is ending, but the club has not ruled out an extension under new terms. If Barcelona exercises the buyout option for Virgili, the intention would be to sell him on, not include him in the squad for the season.
Virgili, born on 26 July 2006, was 19 during the 2025-26 season. He played 31 La Liga matches for Mallorca, scoring two goals and providing six assists, information from the figures cited in the report. The Ideal Deportes statistical record for that season also lists 31 appearances, with 19 starts and 12 substitute appearances, and 1,797 minutes played. It credits him with 110 dribbles, including 49 successful dribbles, and two goals. The database identifies him as a forward wearing Mallorca’s No. 17 shirt. His Copa del Rey record for the season lists no appearances.
Virgili’s active role in the team has attracted interest from Barcelona and other clubs. He is under contract with Mallorca until 2030, but the reduction in his release clause following the club’s relegation could accelerate developments in the transfer market. A subsequent report by Mateu Sabaté in El Nacional, published on 7 August 2026, said Club Brugge had paid the €12 million clause to sign Virgili. Barcelona would receive 40% of the proceeds, or €4.8 million.
Virgili’s situation illustrates how conditions for players and clubs in Spain change after relegation from the top flight. Lowering a release clause is standard practice, allowing top clubs to respond quickly to emerging opportunities. Rules and procedures are changing in other areas too: starting in 2026, sick-leave notifications in Spain will be sent only electronically, as detailed in the article on the transition to digital notifications for sick-leave recipients. These reforms reflect a broader shift towards faster, simpler processes in football and everyday life.
Barcelona sold Virgili for €3.5 million while retaining a impressive share of his rights. Such arrangements allow the club to limit risks and profit even from short-term transfers. In recent years, Barcelona has actively used these mechanisms in deals involving young players, making them a impressive part of its financial strategy as financial fair play rules in La Liga tighten.
