Unai Hernández is officially a new player for Al Ittihad. On Thursday, FC Barcelona and the Saudi club signed the transfer of the 20-year-old forward, who this season scored 9 goals and provided 3 assists in 20 matches (1,799 minutes) with Barça Atlètic. The player from Malgrat de Mar had remained on the bench on Saturday against Ourense (1-1), while waiting for the resolution of his departure.
With this, Barça ensures a total net income of 4.5 million euros, in addition to another €500,000 in variables. Unai was one of the captains of the Barça B team and had a contract until the next June 30, along with a clause to extend his contract for two more seasons, until June 2027. However, he preferred to accept the offer from Al Ittihad, where he will share the locker room with players of the caliber of N'Golo Kanté and Karim Benzema.
Barça may seek a reinforcement before the winter market closes
The 20-year-old forward was one of the reinforcements requested by coach Laurent Blanc, so he arrives in Arabia with a guaranteed starting position. With Barça Atlètic, the Spanish attacker played a total of 59 matches (19 goals and 10 assists) over a season and a half. Unai came from the Girona academy to try his luck with the Barça team in the summer of 2022. After a year with the Juvenil A, he made the jump to the B team under Rafa Márquez in the summer of 2023.
For the culés, the transfer of the forward may represent a boost to try to finalize the signing of Marcus Rashford. With the 1:1 secured for reinforcements, the club will have no obstacles to invest the profits from the transfer of the player from Malgrat de Mar into reinforcements for the first team or the B team. If they decide to incorporate the still Manchester United player, it would be a simple loan for six months, although the high salary of the Englishman complicates his departure from Old Trafford. The winter market closes on Monday, February 3 at 23:59.