It is almost certain that the Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez's move from Barcelona to Atlético de Madrid will be officially announced in the coming hours or days, at the latest.
After an agreement was reached between Barca and Suarez, according to which the latter would leave the team in exchange for giving up part of the salary for the remaining year of his contract, Josep, president of the Catalan club, Maria Bartomeu, refused at the last minute to allow Suarez to leave for free.
Suarez, his lawyer and Bartomeu held a lengthy meeting after which they reached a solution to the transfer of Suarez to Atletico Madrid, but not for free.
The agreement stipulates that "Al Atleti" will pay additions related to the team's performance and progress in the Champions League for the next two years.
According to media reports, the agreement between "Rojiblancos" and "Alistolero" has already been completed, and Suarez (33 years) has already spoken with Argentine coach Diego Simeone, and he may officially announce the player's inclusion on Friday.
Reports follow that Atletico Madrid, after loaning Alvaro Morata to Juventus for one season with the option to buy, will loan Colombian back Santiago Arias to Bayer Leverkusen for one season with a mandatory clause to buy the player after the loan ends.
Suarez - who moved from Liverpool in 214 for 81 million euros - is third in Barcelona's list of historic goalscorers, scoring 198 goals in 283 matches.