Wonderkid Xavi Simons has completed a move to French champions Paris Saint-Germain after announcing his departure from Barcelona.
The 16-year-old took to social media to announce his decision on Tuesday, which came as something of a shock considering the high regard in which he is held in the Barça youth system.
As reported by ?Goal, the champions of ?La Liga had offered the youngster a €100k-a-year deal to stay in the club’s La Masia academy programme but he has instead opted to move on.
The Dutch teenager only announced his departure on Tuesday morning, but just a matter of hours later, he was spotted at the headquarters of Paris Saint-Germain, with a club announcement made about his new deal which runs until 2022 shortly after on social media.
?Barça were initially shocked by the youngster’s desire to leave and in their attempts to persuade him to stay offered more money and a promotion to the Under-19 team.
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Le Paris Saint-Germain est heureux d’annoncer l’arrivée de @xavisimons au sein du club ?
Le milieu de terrain néerlandais a signé un contrat professionnel dont la durée s’étire jusqu’au 30 juin 2?0?2?2? ?
?? #ICICESTPARIS pic.twitter.com/Om8oX4pjW5
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) July 23, 2019
Simons, who is represented by controversial agent Mino Raiola, will be a big miss for Barça, but they are apparently not panicking about losing another talent to PSG.
Instead, according to Goal’s report, Barça are focussed on Ilaix Moriba and English youngster Louie Barry, who they now see as the brightest talents in fabled their youth system. Both players recently signed contracts, as they look to gradually progress through the academy into the first team.
En el Barça hay tranquilidad con la salida de Xavi Simons. El club le había ofrecido Juvenil A y más dinero. Jugador prefiere salir. Se acepta y mucha suerte para él #fcblive pic.twitter.com/fBQsaOIGUT
— Albert Rogé (@albert_roge) July 23, 2019
In what has turned out to be a surprisingly amicable affair, Simons’ exit announcement included a heartfelt message to supporters, which said:
Let’