Barcelona agree to loan Jean-Clair Todibo to OGC Nice

Barcelona decide against bringing back on-loan defender.

Barcelona are expected to be quiet over the winter transfer window as a result of their financial situation and the fact that the club does not have a new president. While they are not going to be buyers, they still can be sellers.

According to Sport, the Catalans have reached a deal with French side OGC Nice over the loan of center-back, Jean-Clair Todibo.

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The French center-back had been on loan with Portuguese side Benfica, but has not seen much playing time.

He was not to the liking of manager Jorge Jesus who said he did not rate Todibo and did not have the level required to be a Benfica player.

With the manager not counting on him, Todibo has played very little and is now going to try his luck back in France.

The deal between the two sides is a loan with an option to buy. The option is for €8.5 million with add-ons that could potentially raise that fee to €15 million. The Catalans are also set to earn 15 percent on any future sale.

Todibo first arrived in Barcelona back in the winter of the 2018-19 season from Toulouse. The club could have waited until the summer to get him on a free but decided to pay Toulouse to acquire him earlier.

In the scant appearances he made under Ernesto Valverde, he showed promise. He was a quick defender and comfortable playing out the back.

But like most young Barcelona players, he wasn’t afforded many opportunities. As a result, he was sent on loan to Schalke 04. Todibo enjoyed more playing time and became an important piece for the German side.

However, Schalke was going through its own problems and so Todibo returned to Barcelona.

Ronald Koeman then made it clear to him he was surplus to requirements. To make matters worse, Todibo also contracted COVID-19, which delayed his move to Benfica as well his opportunity to convince at his new team.

The move back to France now presents an opportunity for Todibo to get consistent playing time. He’s only 21 and still has a future ahead of him. Though it is looking more and more likely that it won’t be with the Spanish giants.