In a surprise move, Barcelona have registered out-of-favour defender Clement Lenglet with La Liga.
The 28-year-old centre-back does not belong in manager Xavi Hernandez’s plans and had been left out of the squad and registration list up until now, with an exit being mooted for him.
Lenglet now appears on La Liga’s official website as part of the Barcelona squad.
Those plans are unlikely to change despite Lenglet being registered with La Liga, with a loan exit now appearing likely for the centre-half.
Barcelona followed a similar manoeuvre with Sergino Dest as they registered him with the league before shipping him off to PSV Eindhoven on a loan deal to benefit on the Financial Fair Play front.
And, it could be a similar tactic that the club are using with Lenglet’s registration ahead of a possible departure on loan or permanently.
Lenglet spent the last season away on loan at Tottenham Hotspur and a permanent move back to north London seemed to be on the cards this summer, but talks collapsed.
However, with the Blaugrana now said to be open to loaning Lenglet out, whether Spurs return to the table for the Frenchman’s services remains to be seen.
As far as registrations are concerned, Barcelona will also look to get Marcos Alonso, Inaki Pena, and Inigo Martinez registered at the earliest possible.
