- Putellas to extend her stay at Barcelona
- Agreement reached with the club
- Set to see her wages getting doubled
WHAT HAPPENED?
The two-time Ballon d’Or winner has spent the last 18 months overcoming an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and a subsequent keyhole surgery to her knee. Now back to regular match fitness, Putellas has been convinced by Barcelona’s proposal and the talks have gained winds towards signing a new two-year deal with an option of a further year, according to The Athletic.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite receiving lucrative offers from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Putellas has always intended to stay at Barcelona. However, she sought assurances regarding the club’s future direction and her role within the team before committing to a new contract.
DID YOU KNOW?
In December, Barcelona had offered Putellas a contract that would make her the highest-paid player in the squad, effectively doubling her salary. However, her decision to join the Spanish national team camp in February did not go down well with the club as the medical team had advised otherwise. Despite the initial friction caused by her national team call-up, both parties managed to reach an understanding and have now ironed out their differences.
Putellas’ desire to remain at the club was never in doubt, but she needed to hear Barcelona’s plans for the women’s team and the proposed managerial changes. The club’s project, including the appointment of Pere Romeu, a former Barcelona men’s youth coach, as the successor to outgoing manager Jonatan Giraldez, was a crucial factor in her decision-making process.
WHAT NEXT FOR PUTELLAS?
Putellas can potentially end the current campaign by bagging the treble. The Catalan club have already clinched the Liga F and could lift the Copa de la Reina and the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophies if they beat Real Sociedad and Lyon in the respective summit clashes.
