Barca confirm defender Mathieu move

Madrid, July 8 (IANS): Sporting Lisbon has signed defender Jeremy Mathieu from Spanish football giants Barcelona on a two-year contract. The Sporting website on Friday confirmed the player has a 60 million Euro ($68.4 million) buyout clause included in his contract, reports Xinhua news agency. The confirmation of the transfer comes a week after Barcelona allowed the Frenchman to train with Sporting. Mathieu, who had a year remaining on his contract, arrived in Barcelona during the summer of 2014, making a total of 91 appearances and scoring four goals. However, he was never first choice for the club and a series of injury problems limited him to just 16 appearances in the 2016-17 campaign.