It's now official: one of Barcelona's wonderkids is moving away to get more experience before turning into a star.
The club announced on Friday that a loan deal has indeed been agreed with newly promoted La Liga side Sporting Gijón for Alen Halilovic. The Asturians will have the Croatian youngster for a whole season, with a straight up loan contract. That means no buyout or extension clauses, and the player will return to Catalonia next July.
The 19-year-old was signed from Dinamo Zagreb and instantly became a Barça B starter, playing in 30 matches with the youth squad last season.