Famalicão: Ibrahima Ba is a 'new signing'

Ibrahima Ba was the notable new face at Famalicão's training session this Monday morning at the club's training center.

The young 21-year-old center-back had spent the previous week in France after Famalicão had agreed to his transfer to Strasbourg. The deal, which would have brought around €20 million (€15M + €5M) into the Minho club's coffers, ultimately fell through, leading to significant controversy.

Reports from France last Friday suggested that Ibrahima Ba had failed his medical examinations conducted at the French club's facilities. However, the player's agent subsequently presented a different version of events, blaming Strasbourg's management. He claimed that as Ba was preparing to sign his contract with the Ligue 1 side, the salary figures did not match what had been previously agreed upon.

With the transfer now canceled, Ibrahima Ba has returned to base and is once again an option for Famalicão for the new season. The African defender was a prominent presence at the blue and whites' training session this Monday morning, providing Carlos Carvalhal with another valuable option for the heart of the defense.

It's worth remembering that Ibrahima Ba is under contract with Famalicão until 2030, meaning any potential departure would naturally depend on a suitable offer reaching the Vila Nova club's SAD. This scenario is not being ruled out, as the center-back continues to be highly sought after by clubs across various leagues – besides France, teams from England, Spain, and Germany are closely monitoring his progress. However, if such a move materializes, the management, led by Miguel Ribeiro, will not be caught off guard. In fact, the Famalicão executive himself stated last Saturday, on the sidelines of the squad's presentation to members and fans, that in his opinion, "Ibrahima Ba is the best center-back in the Portuguese League."