Barcelona transfer news: Youngster 'set to join' Portuguese club after El Clasico hat-trick

Barcelona appear set to offload Pau Victor this summer, with reports suggesting a permanent transfer to Braga is close to being finalised.

The Catalan striker, who caught attention last summer with an impressive pre-season, including a hat-trick in an El Clasico friendly against Real Madrid, now seems surplus to requirements at Camp Nou. Barcelona faced difficulties registering him last season and now do not appear to count on him for the 2025-26 campaign.

Victor's journey from Girona to Barcelona

Victor began his career at Girona, breaking into the first team in the Spanish second tier at just 18. After a loan spell at Sabadell, he joined Barcelona with the intention of reinforcing the club's B-team in the third tier. He nearly helped the side earn promotion with a 20-goal season, convincing the Blaugrana to secure his services from Girona for just under £2.5m.

Though he was initially expected to remain with the B-team, Victor publicly pushed for a chance with the senior squad, especially after his standout pre-season form.

Victor’s performance in the USA against Real Madrid raised expectations, but he ultimately found minutes hard to come by. With Robert Lewandowski as the undisputed first-choice striker and Ferran Torres in fine goalscoring form, Victor was limited to just 29 appearances totalling under 400 minutes. He scored two goals during the campaign but never truly broke into Hansi Flick’s plans.

Despite this, his El Clasico hat-trick remains a memorable moment for supporters, even if it came in a friendly.

Braga to offer regular minutes

Now 23, Victor is no longer viewed as a rising talent and needs consistent playing time to continue his development. Braga, who have a strong track record with Spanish players, are reportedly ready to offer him that opportunity.

The Portuguese side are said to have agreed a permanent deal worth approximately £10m. Previous examples such as Abel Ruiz and Alvaro Djalo suggest Victor could thrive in Braga’s environment.

Barcelona, still managing financial constraints, will likely welcome the fee. With Ferran Torres set to remain Lewandowski’s deputy and other forwards emerging from the academy, Victor's exit is not expected to impact Flick’s plans significantly.

This article was originally published on Fotbal Portal.