Barcelona sign Malcom after drama

SPANISH champions Barcelona announced yesterday they have signed Brazilian winger Malcom from French side Bordeaux on a five-year deal for €41 million (RM194 million). The signing comes after Bordeaux blocked the transfer of the 21-year-old to Italian giants Roma following a last-minute bid from the Catalan side on Monday. “FC Barcelona and Girondins de Bordeaux have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Malcom Filipe Silva de Oliveira,” Barcelona said in a statement.

“The player will sign with the club for the next five seasons, until the end of the 2022/23 season.”

Malcom had been expected to arrive in Rome on Monday for a medical on Tuesday before joining his future teammates on their pre-season tour of the United States the following day, but had his flight cancelled by the Ligue 1 outfit at the last moment.

Barcelona made contact with Bordeaux following the failure to sign Brazil international Willian from Chelsea and, according to Italian media reports, made a bid larger than the reported fee of €38m (RM181m) agreed with Roma.

Malcom had been a reported target for several European clubs including Premier League sides Arsenal and Tottenham, but English clubs may have been put off from making a bid as he needed a UK work permit to play in the Premier League.

He scored 12 goals in 35 league games for Bordeaux last season.

Barcelona praised him as a “daring, pacey forward with an ability to shoot from distance” who has “a great future ahead of him”.

His signing leaves Ernesto Valverde’s side well stocked across the forward line with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele and now Malcom all competing for a place in the attack.

Malcom is Barcelona’s second Brazilian summer signing after Gremio midfielder Arthur, 21, joined in a €31m (RM147m) deal.

Arthur was a star turn with Gremio as the Porto Alegre side lifted the Copa Libertadores, and was named as man of the match in the second leg of their final win over Argentina’s Lanus. – AFP