Marcos Alonso agrees to join Barcelona rivals on free transfer - report

Marcos Alonso will leave Barcelona as a free agent when his contract expires this summer, according to reports.

Alonso signed an 18-month contract in January 2023 which includes the option for an extra 12 months if he plays in 50% of matches this season, but a back injury and the emergence of other options have restricted him to just 299 minutes across seven appearances in all competitions this season.

With Alejandro Balde the preferred starter and loanee Joao Cancelo seen as the main backup, Fabrizio Romano notes that the decision has been made to bid farewell to Alonso when the season comes to a close.

Alonso made 37 appearances last year and was regularly used both as a left-back and in a surprise centre-back role, with his versatility earning him an extension to his initial one-year contract.

However, he lost his place in the squad at the start of this season, before suffering a back injury which kept him sidelined between December and March. He is yet to play since returning to the squad last month.

Alonso is expected to remain in Spain when his contract expires and has long been tipped to join Atletico Madrid - a move which would see him complete a spell which each of Spain's biggest three sides after he came through the Real Madrid academy and made a solitary appearance for Los Blancos in April 2010.

Cadena SER are the latest outlet to report on Atletico's interest in Alonso. It is claimed that the 33-year-old already has an agreement with Diego Simeone's side, although nothing has been made official at this point.

As well as Alonso, this summer could see Sergi Roberto bid farewell to Barcelona as he approaches the end of his own contract.

A final decision has not been made about the versatile 32-year-old, whose future is expected to be tied to that of manager Xavi who, as it stands, will depart at the end of the campaign.

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