The future for RCD Mallorca winger Jan Virgili just got a whole lot cloudier, thanks to Barcelona’s imminent signing of Jesse Bisiwu. Forget any dreams of a return to the Catalan giants for the 19-year-old former La Masia talent; this deal effectively slams the door shut on that possibility, reports Mundo Deportivo. Virgili kicked off his pre-season with Mallorca earlier this month, knowing full well that clubs are still watching him after his first professional season, but Barca’s focus has clearly shifted.
Barca’s Shifting Plans
It’s wild how fast things change in football, right? Virgili was absolutely on Barcelona’s radar to boost their attack this summer. Think about it: an affordable release clause and they still owned 40% of his rights? Bringing him back would’ve cost a cool €7.2 million, a steal for a talent like that. His reps even met with sporting director Deco in mid-June to talk about a comeback. But hold up, because Barcelona’s priorities went into overdrive after that meeting. They locked up Anthony Gordon, they’re still chasing Julian Alvarez, and then boom, they moved decisively for Jesse Bisiwu. The highly-rated 18-year-old Belgian prospect’s arrival totally changed the game, drastically cutting the need for another player with a similar profile to Virgili.
The Bisiwu Bet
This Bisiwu deal is getting confirmed any minute now, and Barcelona is dropping €8.5 million on Club Brugge for him. Yeah, that’s a bit more than what it would have taken to bring Virgili back, but clearly, the club sees something special. Internally, Bisiwu is looked at as the guy who can complete their attacking unit for the long haul. The plan is for this kid to train regularly with the first team, get some reps in with Barça Atletic, and then join the senior squad for pre-season camp in England. They’re betting big on the Belgian, and that bet has massive consequences for Virgili.
So what happens next for Virgili? Mallorca isn’t giving up on him yet. He impressed big time in his debut season, and they’ve already offered him a new contract as they gear up for a fresh project under head coach Luis Garcia. Barcelona might be out of the picture, but plenty of other European teams are still tracking the young winger’s progress. Transfer activity cooled off during the World Cup, but now that the tournament’s wrapped up, expect the market to heat up fast. For now, Virgili is just focused on pre-season with Mallorca, waiting to see where he lands. But one thing is crystal clear: that return to Barcelona, a club where he started his journey, is pretty much off the table. Keep your eyes peeled; this kid’s story is just beginning, even if it’s not with the Catalans.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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