Barcelona complete €20m deal for Mathieu

"The cost of the transfer is €20 million and the buy-out clause will be €50 million."The 30-year-old Mathieu will bolster the centre of Barcelona's defence after they missed out on any major trophies last season and their porous backline was a significant factor.The Frenchman, who can also play at left back, continues the restructuring of the squad under new coach Luis Enrique.Striker Luis Suarez, midfielder Ivan Rakitic and keepers Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Claudio Bravo have also been signed.Midfielder Cesc Fabregas and forward Alexis Sanchez have left for Chelsea and Arsenal respectively.OUR VIEWIt seems like a hefty transfer fee for a 30-year-old defender who has only been capped twice by his country but Barcelona desperately needed to bring somebody in to replace Carlos Puyol and new coach Luis Enrique has always seemed keen on Mathieu.Barcelona are at least getting a player who is tried and tested in La Liga, but with an impending transfer ban they still need to look for a long-term solution at the centre-back position.Mats Hummels would probably cost too much to fit into FFP rules so moves for other heavily linked younger defenders like Marquinhos at PSG or Daley Blind at Ajax, look more likely.FRENCH VIEW - Vincent Bregevin (@VB_eurosport), Eurosport FranceEven if Mathieu has been playing well with Valencia, we don’t understand why Barcelona paid that price and gave him such a long contract. They paid 20 million euros, which makes Mathieu the most expansive over-30 year old defender in history according to Squawka and they signed him for four years (plus one year option) which seems incredibly long for us.That’s a price and a contract you could expect for a regular player of the French squad with potential, or a player who proved himself in the Champions League.And Mathieu is not really this player this player (only two caps with France and 14 CL games). Anyway we don’t understand Barcelona strategy for central defenders, but we’re proud a French player has got this contract.Bravo Mathieu !(uk.eurosport.yahoo.com)Bakudaily.az