Barcelona to report Santos to FIFA over Gabigol

Barcelona could be set to report Brazilian club Santos to FIFA over a dispute revolving around young striker Gabriel “Gabigol” Barbosa, according to reports in Spain.

Spanish sports newspaper Sport is reporting that Barcelona are set to report Santos to FIFA after the Brazilian club failed to adhere to the first refusal agreement that Barça had for the young striker.

It is claimed that the Spanish champions purchased a first option on the then-16-year-old forward back in 2013 for £6 million as part of the deal that took Neymar to the Camp Nou.

Barcelona believe that the agreement afforded them three days to match any bid that Santos received for Barbosa, but the Blaugrana believed that, when Inter Milan made their move to sign the player nicknamed Gabigol, they were given less than 48 hours to respond.

Barbosa has since completed his move to Inter, having signed for the Serie A giants on his 20th birthday, and Barcelona instead signed Paco Alcácer from Valencia for £27 million.

But Barça are far from happy at Santos’ conduct throughout the Barbosa to Inter transfer, and will now look to report the Brazilian club to FIFA over their failure to adhere to the terms of the first refusal agreement brokered in 2013.

Barcelona spent over €100 million on six players this summer, as they look to retain their La Liga title.