Football
Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent 6y

Sporting Gijon to pay Barcelona €1.2 million over 2012 Alberto Botia sale

Sporting Gijon have been ordered to pay Barcelona €1.2 million over the sale of defender Alberto Botia to Sevilla in 2012 by a Spanish court.

Botia joined second-division side Sporting on loan from Barca in 2009, with the deal made permanent the following the summer.

As part of the deal, Barcelona maintained the right to re-sign the centre-back and were also due 30 percent of any future transfer.

When Botia moved to Sevilla in 2012 for around €3m, though, Barcelona said they did not receive any of the fee.

Sporting argued that the Catalan club had not made the necessary demands over the money within the timeframe stipulated in the contract.

However, a court sided with Barcelona on Thursday, ordering Gijon to pay the La Liga leaders a total of €1.2m -- 30 percent of the transfer plus a small amount in compensation.

Botia, now 29, came through the youth system at Barca before going on to make 92 appearances for Sporting.

However, he failed to make the grade at Sevilla and following a loan spell at Elche, he joined Greek side Olympiakos in 2014 -- where he's been playing for the last four years.

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