Barça cash in on La Masia again. Yaakobishvili already out of training

The pathway from La Masia to Barcelona’s first team still exists. Sometimes it just takes a turn towards Almería. Áron Yaakobishvili missed Saturday’s training session and will not travel with the squad to Basel, as he is finalising his move to UD Almería. That is the fresh development in the story.

The transfer itself is not new. Reports earlier this week stated that Almería were negotiating a deal worth around €2–3 million, with Barcelona expected to retain roughly 50–60% of the goalkeeper’s rights. Yaakobishvili had the option of staying around the first team, but decided to leave in search of regular football.

It is difficult to blame him. After years in Barça’s academy and a loan spell at Andorra, the 20-year-old appears to have decided that actually playing football is slightly more useful for his development than being another goalkeeper waiting for an opportunity. Barcelona, meanwhile, will collect another few million and keep a sizeable stake in his future.

For now, the message is pretty clear: Yaakobishvili has already stepped away from the team’s preparations while the deal is being completed. Another La Masia prospect heads elsewhere for minutes, while Barça keeps the receipt — and a percentage.