Official: Carles Alena joins Getafe on loan from Barcelona

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:24 BST
• 4 min read

Barcelona midfielder Carles Alena has joined Getafe on loan for the rest of the reason.

The 23-year-old is a graduate of Barca’s famed La Masia academy, and had previously been touted as one of the next big things to come out of the youth set-up at the Camp Nou.

Alena made his debut for Barcelona in November of 2016 in a Copa del Rey clash against Hercules, even scoring on his first senior start with the Blaugrana.

• How Haaland has helped move Kane up Man Utd and Chelsea’s shopping list

However, he hasn’t matched the expectations that were thrust upon him at a young age and is yet to establish himself within the first team.

In 2017/18 he made three appearances for the senior side, all in the Spanish Cup, though he would go on to make 17 appearances in all competitions in 2018/19.

After a handful of appearances in the first half of the 2019/20 season, he was given the opportunity to get some first-team exposure at Real Betis for the second half of the campaign. He would go on to make 10 starts for the Andalusian side, scoring one goal.

OFICIAL | Carles Aleñá nuevo futbolista del Getafe C.F.

¡Bienvenido a la familia azulona! #AleñaAzulon pic.twitter.com/pAeQmON5IZ

— Getafe C.F. (@GetafeCF) January 6, 2021

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Barcelona were unable to make any meaningful purchases in the summer transfer window other than Sergino Dest, while Miralem Pjanic was purchased in the swap deal with Arthur previously.

That opened up the door for Alena to receive more game time, but with new head coach Ronald Koeman opting to play his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, that left opportunities again on the minimum for the La Masia graduate.

Alena currently finds himself behind Pjanic, Frenkie de Jong, and Sergio Busquets in the pecking order for those two spots.

A loan move away from the Camp Nou has now materialised, with Getafe winning the race for his signature.

Getafe are hoping to include Alena in the matchday squad for their next fixture against Elche this weekend.

Riqui Puig is another Barcelona starlet who could be allowed to leave the club on loan this January.