February a key month for finalising Jordi Alba's contract renewal

It's a key time for Jordi Alba's future. In the coming days there will be a call between his agents and Barcelona to arrange a second meeting, the second phase of this negotiation process, which will be important but not definitive. They need to get closer together, but both parties are keen to find an agreement. 

Barça have been busy in January, with the signings of Murillo, Boateng, Todibo and De Jong, as well as the exits of Denis Suarez and Munir. Those operations have left contract talks in the background. The club's hierarchy has not stopped this month and it will be when the market closes that they can approach things in a calmer manner.  

Alba's renewal is a priority. It was on standby for a while but finally, last November, general manager Pep Segura phoned to arrange a meeting: on Nov. 27 there was a meeting, which lasted 90 minutes, in Barcelona. 

The offer from Barça at that time was not high enough and the player's agents took it as a mere first offer and didn't even consider it. 

JUVE PRESSING 

Since then, Alba's waited for the club to improve their offer, aware of his value to the team with each passing game. 

There was absolutely nothing until the Festa de l’Esport Català organized by SPORT and UFEC. Alba, named best Catalan sportsman of 2018 at the event, went with his agent and there was a brief meeting with Barça president Josep Maria Bartomeu. They arranged to meet soon. 

The offer Barça are preparing, SPORT have learned, is more attractive and closer to reality. And it will be in February when they have a second meeting and progress can be made. The left-back made it clear he wants to stay in an interview with SPORT, despite interest from big European clubs, like Juventus. 

Bartomeu, also in an exclusive interview with SPORT, has spoken about a five-year deal. Things should be sorted next month.