Barcelona have officially completed the signing of 19-year-old left-back Patricio Pacífico from Defensor Sporting. The Uruguayan youth international joins Barça Atlètic on an initial loan deal until June 2026, but the agreement hides a series of performance-based triggers that could see him stay in Catalonia for years to come.
Speaking to the Uruguayan program ‘Tirando Paredes’, the player’s agent, Germán Krasouski, broke down the complex structure of the deal designed to comply with Financial Fair Play while securing the player’s long-term future.
The Progressive Buy Option
Barcelona has the flexibility to acquire Pacífico’s rights in stages. The structure is designed to reward Defensor for the player’s development:
- Initial 50%: Barça can purchase half of his rights for €2 million.
- The “80% Goal”: The club has three subsequent options to buy 10% more each time, reaching a total of 80% for a maximum fee of €3.8 million.
- The “Resale Clause”: Defensor Sporting will retain a minimum of 20% of any future sale, ensuring they benefit from his potential success at the Spotify Camp Nou.
The Mandatory Trigger
The loan could automatically convert into a purchase obligation under specific tactical conditions. If Pacífico plays 10 matches (featuring for at least 30 minutes in each), Barcelona will be required to buy the initial 50%.
With 14 games left in the season, plus potential playoff matches for the reserve team, the agent noted that “Barça has already expressed their intention to activate the clause regardless of the match count.”
Future Plans and the “Araújo Connection”
Should the purchase be finalized, a pre-negotiated two-and-a-half-year contract (with a club option for two additional years) will take effect in July. Currently, Pacífico is recovering from a minor adductor injury and is expected to be ready for his debut in approximately 15 days.
Adding to the excitement, Krasouski revealed that current first-team star Ronald Araújo has already reached out to the teenager to help him adapt to life in Barcelona, serving as the blueprint for another Uruguayan success story at the club.
Gabriel Lucio is a football analyst covering La Liga, focusing on match analysis, tactical trends, and the race for domestic and European positions.
