© EuroFootball.com
Defender Marc Bartra celebrated his 23rd birthday on Wednesday with a fantastic gift - a new contract with Barcelona.
The agreement was officially announced on the Catalan team's website.
In the coming days, the player will sign a contract that will be valid until June 30, 2017. The deal includes a release clause of 25 million euros, which any other team interested in acquiring the defender will have to pay without direct negotiations with Barcelona.
Bartra's current contract would have expired in the summer of this year.
Since January 1, Bartra had the freedom to look for another team, but the Catalan player expressed his desire to continue his career in his childhood club, where he has been playing since 2002.
"The thought of leaving Barça never crossed my mind. It's my home club and like many players who grew up in the academy, I want to play here for a long time. As far as I know, my agent and the club's officials are successfully negotiating a contract, which I hope to sign soon," said the player in early December last year.
Bartra made his debut in the main Barcelona team on February 14, 2010, in a match against Atletico Madrid.
It is also reported that in the near future, the Catalan club is expected to announce a successful conclusion of negotiations with defender Martin Montoya, who is also being offered a new contract.
