The fate of Álex Valle at FC Barcelona, at least for this season, took a real turn compared to what was expected to happen with him. Initially, after a quite interesting 2024-25 preseason with the Catalan team, adapting to the right-back position, everything seemed to indicate that the player from Badalona would have opportunities to stay in the team and become a valuable asset, either at right-back, where he was seen with more conviction, or at left-back, his natural position.
However, in a complete turn of events, Álex Valle ended up being loaned to Celtic Glasgow, in a loan deal that, as argued at the time, was due to his expressed desire for more playing time and experience in the First Division, something he wouldn't have with such regularity in the Barcelona squad. At left-back, Alejandro Balde is the undisputed starter and Gerard Martín follows, while on the right flank, Jules Koundé is the absolute starter, leaving the former Levante player with few opportunities to play at Barcelona.
Celtic Glasgow Successfully Enticed Álex Valle
At this point, the offer from Celtic, a team that appeared as a very attractive environment for several reasons, emerged. Firstly, the Scottish team will be competing in the UEFA Champions League, which would give him the opportunity to participate in international competitions, which is a great incentive.
Additionally, Celtic has the manager Brendan Rodgers, who managed to convince Álex Valle to join the Scottish team. Rodgers is a top-level coach with experience at clubs like Liverpool and Leicester, and is expected to help the player from Badalona grow as a footballer.
Of course, the chance to enjoy more minutes at the Glasgow side was also a determining factor. To date, Álex Valle has accumulated 241 minutes of play in four matches, gradually earning a place as a left-back with standout performances, with two assists already added.
Scots Wanted to Include a Purchase Option in Álex Valle's Loan Agreement
With all this in mind, it wouldn't be surprising to see how Álex Valle is gaining importance in Celtic's sports planning. In fact, it seems that the Scottish team has notable confidence in him, as, according to 'SPORT', they had expressed interest in including a purchase clause in the loan agreement, in case the player from Badalona establishes himself as a top-level left-back, as expected.
However, according to the mentioned source, Álex Valle and his entourage decided not to include that purchase clause in the contract, meaning the left-back will return to FC Barcelona in the next summer transfer window, that is, on June 30, 2025. Before his loan, Barça made sure to renew his contract, which was set to expire in 2025, extending it until 2026 (with an option for two more years).