Sanabria agent hints at Barca exit

The agent of Barcelona B striker Antonio ‘Tony’ Sanabria claims his client’s future may well lie away from the Camp Nou.

The highly-rated 17-year-old is thought to be one of Barca’s stars of the future, yet his representative Raul Verdu insists the youngster could be on the verge of leaving the Catalan giants.

“Right now I see Tony more out of Barca than in. If I’m being honest that’s what I think. However, in football you cannot say what will happen until things are signed,” he told Paraguay’s 95.5FM Radio.

Barca boss Tata Martino has personally intervened to try and keep the Paraguay-born player at the club, although Verdu believes it is time for him to try his luck elsewhere after receiving several offers.

“His era at Barca B, although it has just started, is now over. This is an opportunity for him to be in the first team at other big teams.

“It is now time to decide his future. Besides the economic side of things, the difference is that other clubs want him as a first-team member.

“When a club wants to pay his buyout clause then it indicates they want him in their squad. It’s proof they want him in their starting line-up.”

Verdu left the issue of whether Sanabria would continue to wear a Barca shirt up in the air.

“If Barcelona give him the opportunity to compete and make him a real, strong commitment, then the plan could change. If not, it will be difficult for him to continue.

“It’s obvious Tony wants to get into the Barca first team, but quickly, although the process has not been speeded up because of the circumstances.

“Others see him as a first-team player at Barcelona, but right now he isn’t. We have a situation where we must look at our own interests and take the necessary steps,” he warned.

Sanabria, who joined La Blaugrana’s youth academy in 2009 aged 13 and a year later was moved to La Masia, only made his B team debut on September 29 this year, playing the last 22 minutes of a 1-0 home defeat to Real Mallorca.

Nonetheless, he has already represented Paraguay three times at full international level, making his bow last August in a 3-3 draw with Germany.

Tags Martino Sanabria
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