Pau Victor's Heartbreaking Barcelona Farewell: "Forever a Culer" as Transfer Fee Revealed
The permanent move of Pau Víctor from Barcelona to Braga has been officially announced.
Braga will provide a fixed fee of €12 million ($14.1 million), with the possibility of an additional €3 million ($3.5 million) through performance bonuses. His agreement with the Portuguese side extends until 2030 and features a €50 million ($58.7 million) buyout clause.
Barcelona must cover expenses related to the solidarity mechanism, a FIFA regulation designed to compensate clubs for developing players until age 23. This amounts to 5% of the transfer sum distributed to Víctor's previous clubs since he turned 12.
Víctor was presented by Braga, who are currently progressing through this season's Europa League preliminary stages, on Friday evening. Simultaneously, Barcelona extended "best wishes and complete success" to the 23-year-old, while he also shared his own goodbye message to the Blaugrana.
"Today concludes a period that has defined my existence. A period that has been far more than football: it has been a fantasy realized," Víctor wrote on Instagram.
"Initially with Barça Atlètic, subsequently with the senior squad…but consistently with identical emotions: those of a youngster who matured dreaming of donning this jersey.
"Representing this emblem has been a tremendous privilege, both at the Johan and at Montjuïc, consistently with the honor of belonging to an extraordinary club. Because Barça transcends being merely a club. It's an emotion that fulfills you, changes you, and elevates you.
"Appreciation to all the managers, colleagues, club personnel, and supporters who have joined me on this path. I carry with me relationships, principles, teachings, and experiences that I'll treasure eternally.
"Now I move toward fresh opportunities, with confidence and fulfillment. With identical enthusiasm, identical dedication, and lasting pride of having represented these colors, and a vision experienced that will remain with me everywhere I venture. With complete appreciation, always a Culer."
Víctor, who originates from a small Catalan community north of Barcelona, joined the main team last summer after a season loaned to Barça Atlètic. He had previously excelled for Girona B, but struggled to create the required influence at senior level with Barça.
The athlete scored merely two goals in 29 matches across all tournaments, with only two being La Liga starting appearances, and gained most attention by being involved in Barcelona's surprising financial blunder concerning the registrations of both himself and Dani Olmo.
Víctor represents the third exit to create room in the senior squad at Barcelona for the upcoming season, following Ansu Fati's loan move to Monaco and Pablo Torre's permanent transfer to Mallorca. Álex Valle and Clément Lenglet have also permanently departed the club.