Barcelona goalkeeper left out of Basel trip as Almeria transfer nears completion

Barcelona goalkeeper Aron Yaakobishvili is on the verge of joining Almeria, as evidenced by his exclusion from the team traveling to Basel. Gerard Romero informed that negotiations for his departure are nearing completion. This change in plans reflects a shift in Barcelona's strategy for the young Hungarian goalkeeper. Earlier in the summer, Yaakobishvili was considered a strong contender to become the club's third-choice goalkeeper behind Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny.

However, Almeria's emergence as a leading destination has shifted the situation. Barcelona had previously been hesitant to send him on loan despite interest from Racing Santander. Yaakobishvili has been part of Barcelona's senior squad throughout pre-season, receiving opportunities to showcase his skills under Hansi Flick. His involvement in the first team had made him a promising option for the club's future.

Racing Santander had shown interest in signing him on loan, but Barcelona did not pursue that option due to the belief that the 20-year-old had a place in the club’s long-term plans. The transfer to Almeria could bring Barcelona up to €3 million, as previously reported. Despite training with Flick’s first team during pre-season, Barcelona seems prepared to allow Yaakobishvili to continue his development elsewhere, rather than keeping him as a third-choice option with limited playing opportunities.

Almeria has taken the lead in the transfer process, and unless there is a late change in negotiations, the deal is expected to go through.