Roberto Firmino Agrees To Join FC Barcelona From Liverpool This Summer: Reports

Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino has agreed to join FC Barcelona when his contract expires, according to the Daily Mail.

This has been reported by Brazilian journalist Josue Seixas, who writes for reliable local publications such as UOL and hails from Firmino’s hometown of Maceio in northeastern Brazil.

According to Seixas, people close to Firmino have confirmed to him that there is an agreement in place between the forward and the Catalans, after the 31-year-old decided not to renew his current deal at Anfield which expires on June 30.

News of this broke in March with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp having tried and failed to convince Firmino to stay, BBC Sport reported.

Firmino then offered himself to Barca through his representatives, according to El Nacional, with the Reds’ current number ‘9’ of the belief that he could fit into current head coach Xavi Hernandez’s system effortlessly while in love with the Blaugrana’s playing style under their former legendary midfielder.

If the Daily Mail report is accurate, it appears that Xavi and president Joan Laporta share the same ideas about how Firmino can bolster a squad which currently lacks goals and has failed to score in its last three matches despite topping La Liga by 11 points.

Given Barca need to shave €200 million ($218 million) from their wage bill as warned by La Liga president Javier Tebas, it makes sense that they would look towards a soon-to-be free agent like Firmimo as other targets such as Lionel Messi and Ilkay Gundogan will also be in the summer.

Firmino could act as a cheaper alternative to compatriot Vitor Roque. Despite being almost 14 years the Athletico Paranaense striker’s senior, Firmino costs around €40 million ($44 million) less and also has much more experience in the elite as a Premier
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League and Champions League winner.

Barca have had to draw up a viability plan to convince La Liga they have the means to sign players this summer, and reportedly plan on making four new acquisitions while two big names exit stage left according to Gerard Romero.

With Firmino, Gundogan and Messi already revealed as the potential first three incoming reinforcements, it remains to be seen what could be behind door number ‘4’.