The hype surrounding Barcelona midfielder Carles Alena has been slowly building for some time now. Alena joined La Masia as a 7-year-old, and it wasn’t long after that comparisons to Andres Iniesta began. Last season, Alena was pivotal in helping Barca B earn promotion to the Second Division A after appearing in 29 matches, scoring three goals and registering seven assists.
His performances for the reserves saw him given minutes in the Copa del Rey (he managed to score against Hercules in the competition) and La Liga. Back in June, it was rumored that Alena had signed an extension with the club but, much like the current situation with Lionel Messi and Iniesta, that wasn’t entirely true.
However, Barcelona have announced that the rumored extension has finally, officially been signed. The three-year deal includes a release clause of around $90 million. If you watched any of Barcelona’s preseason, including matches in the International Champions Cup, you’ll know that this kid appears to be worth every penny.