Barcelona defender Marlon Santos has joined Ligue 1 club Nice on a two-year loan deal, it has been confirmed.
Both clubs announced the deal on Tuesday with multiple reports in Spain suggested the French club can buy the Brazilian outright for €20m at the end of the period.
The 21-year-old was signed by Barca for €5m earlier this summer following on from a season-long loan deal from Fluminense.
Alongside helping Barca B win promotion back to the second tier, he started each of the Blaugrana’s last two La Liga fixtures last season against Las Palmas and Eibar but looks set to be on the fringes again this season.
It is yet unclear if the Blaugrana will make a late move for another central defender having pulled out of a €32m deal for Inigo Martinez earlier this summer.
