Football
Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent 7y

Barcelona extend option on Palmeiras defender Yerry Mina until 2018

Barcelona have extended an option they have to sign Palmeiras centre-back Yerry Mina until after the World Cup in Russia in 2018.

Barca would otherwise have had to make a decision on whether they wanted to exercise their right to buy Mina for €9 million this summer.

However, talks between the two clubs in Barcelona this week have led to a new deal that allows the Blaugrana a preferential option on the Colombia international for a further year.

"Palmeiras president Mauricio Galiotte and executive director Alexandre Mattos are currently in Barcelona where they've agreed to extend [Barca's] priority period for buying defender Yerry Mina until after the 2018 World Cup," the Brazilian club confirmed in a statement.

"The previous agreement stipulated that Barca could exercise said priority in July of 2017."

Mina has long been aware of Barcelona's interest but has previously stated that he is keen to spend the next year with Palmeiras, who will be taking part in the Copa Libertadores after winning the Brasileirao.

"I'm happy and excited because, as they say, Barca is more than a club," he said last month. "Every day I get up and think I'm doing things well because Barca are paying attention to me.

"But I have objectives for 2017: to do well, with my mind 100 percent focused on doing things well with Palmeiras, and after that, to try to go to Europe. Everything has its time."

In addition to the Mina negotiations, Galiotte and Mattos have also been speaking with Barcelona about other ways they can cooperate moving forward.

Some of the topics included how the two clubs work, a coaching exchange and grassroots football as Barca and Palmeiras look to develop their understanding and knowledge of how things may differ in South America and Europe.

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