Barcelona have confirmed the controversial signing of Arda Turan from Atletico Madrid for an initial fee €34 million (Dh137.9m).
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However, the deal contains a clause that the midfielder could be sold back to Atletico before July 20, an unusual step taken because Barca are soon holding presidential elections and club rules prevent them from signing players during the build-up to the vote.
The winner of the poll, which takes place on Saturday, July 18, will therefore have the opportunity to reverse the transfer and return the Turkish international to the Vicente Calderon, but that scenario looks extremely unlikely.
OFFICIAL- @fcbarcelona announce the signing of @ArdaTuran10line Welcome Arda! pic.twitter.com/MVxHkgwOsv
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 6, 2015
Josep Maria Bartomeu – who resigned as president last month to allow an interim board to run club affairs until the election – has heavily campaigned for the signing of the Turkish midfielder.
Arguing that Turan has been requested by manager Luis Enrique, he put strong pressure on the interim board to complete the deal, while Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain hoped pounce on the uncertainty.
Interim board president Adell has even threatened to resign in protest at the demands being placed upon him by Bartomeu.
But an emergency meeting on Monday night was swiftly followed by the announcement that Turan will sign a five-year contract. Bartomeu said: “The signing of Arda Turan is great news for Barcelona. We have to support Luis Enrique’s project.”
A further complication arises from the fact that Barca are still serving a transfer ban from FIFA which does not expire until January, meaning that Turan cannot play until the start of next year.
Spending such a vast sum on a player who will be 29 in January is a bold step, and Bartomeu’s heavy personal involvement will invoke furious criticism from his presidential rivals over the next 10 days.
