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Transfer news: Barcelona striker David Villa set to join Atletico Madrid

Image: David Villa: Looks set to make the switch from Barca to Atletico Madrid

Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of striker David Villa to Atletico Madrid.

Villa, who had been linked with a number of Premier League sides, joined Barca in a 40 million euros deal from Valencia in the summer of 2010, penning a four-year contract at the Nou Camp. During his three years with the Catalan club, Spain's record goalscorer played 119 official games and scored 48 goals. However, he spent eight months on the sidelines after suffering a broken leg during the Club World Cup in December 2011, forcing him to miss the second half of the 2011/12 season for Barca and also Spain's successful Euro 2012 campaign. He made his Barca comeback in a pre-season friendly against Dinamo Bucharest last August and would go on to start 24 matches in all competitions for Tito Vilanova's men in the 2012/13 season with a further 16 appearances off the bench, scoring 16 goals. Villa will leave Barca having helped the club win eight trophies in three years, including two Primera Division crowns and the 2011 Champions League. It could be that one of Villa's first competitive games for Atletico will be against Barca, with the Copa del Rey winners meeting the Primera Division champions in the Spanish Supercopa in August.

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