Barcelona Grant Permission for Jeremy Mathieu to Have Trial Period With Sporting Lisbon

Sporting ​CP have confirmed that Barcelona defender Jérémy Mathieu has been given permission by the Spanish giants to have a trial period with the Portuguese club over pre-season. 

Although Mathieu's contract at the Nou Camp is set to expire at the end of next season, Barcelona have granted the 33-year-old a temporary switch, according to ​Sporting CP's official website.  

A statement released by the Portuguese club, said of the deal: "Sporting Clube de Portugal - informs that player Jérémy Mathieu has been authorised by FC Barcelona to train with the Sporting Clube de Portugal team during the next few days.

"After this period, the three parties involved will make a decision as to the future of the player."

Mathieu joined Barcelona from Valencia in the summer of 2014 on a four-year deal for €20m, where he has since made 91 appearances and played his part in securing nine trophies for the club.

Following a season plagued by injury, the defender made only 16 appearances in all competitions last season and the questions surrounding his position in the side have only been confounded by the development of Samuel Umtiti and the signing of Marlon Santos. 

Barcelona are set to return for pre-season training on July 12, a time in which the club are seemingly hoping to have finalised the future of the centre-back - following an initial delay in proceedings due to the Frenchman's attendance at Lionel Messi's wedding, according to O Jogo, via the ​Daily Mail.