Barça B - Official: Chico to Almeria

All parties concerned have officially confirmed that Cádiz central defender José Manuel "Chico" Flores (21), who played on loan with Barcelona B during the first half of this year, will join Primera División club Almería, with whom Chico has signed a five-year contract.

It's unclear how much Almería has paid for the central defender. Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Almería paid 700 000 euro for 70 per cent of the transfer rights, Cádiz local newspaper La Voz de Cádiz thinks the tranfer fee is close to 1 million euro and Almería local news site El Almería says that Cádiz received around 300 000 euro.

Cádiz stated in an official announcement that the third division club will obtain a percentage of the fee if Chico is transferred by Almería. The club confirmed that Barcelona also made an offer but that it wasn't even taken into consideration. Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Barcelona offered 250 000 euro°.

On the website of his new club, Chico explains why he didn't continue with Barcelona Atlètic (previously known as Barcelona B): "It's an important step from the fourth to the first division but over the last months I have been training several times with the first team of Barcelona and I learned a lot doing so. I feel prepared.

It's true that I had several offers, but Barcelona and Almería were the best options. The thing is that Barcelona didn't want to pay for me, they wanted me for the second team and would only pay if I was promoted to the first team. One of the things that have influenced my decision is that Almería wants me for their first team."

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