?Barcelona have given the go-ahead for striker Abel Ruiz to leave the club and potentially join Sporting CP, with the player already approving the terms presented to him by the Portuguese side.
The 19-year-old plays regularly for Barça’s B side but did make his first senior La Liga outing in May last year when he replaced Philippe Coutinho against Getafe.
Given the injury sustained to Luis Suarez, who may be out for the rest of the season, there were suggestions that Ruiz could be given a more regular run in the first team to compensate for the Uruguayan’s spell on the sidelines.
However, it appears as if his time in Catalunya is coming to an end, as ?Mundo Deportivo report that ?Barcelona are willing to sanction his departure with two clubs placing offers on the table. One of the clubs is not known, but the other is Sporting CP, who Ruiz is willing to join.
The Spaniard trained on Thursday as normal, but his days are now numbered as Barça mull over the two interested clubs. Whoever provides the best deal will secure his signature, as La Blaugrana would like to sell Ruiz outright, but will insert a buyback clause should he realise his potential.
The Leões are in need of an injection of goals into their side, with the ?imminent departure of Bruno Fernandes set to leave a huge void in their side that needs filling. Fernandes is due to join ?Manchester United in the coming days (possibly), but while Ruiz may go some way to softening the blow of their captain’s departure, positionally they don’t match up.
Ruiz is a more typical number nine who can play out wide, whereas Fernandes operates as an attacking midfielder. He will need to step up to the plate more, though. This season, he has played 17 games for Barcelona B in the Segunda B, but has netted just three goals and provided two assists.
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