MADRID, May 31 -- FC Barcelona confirmed the sale of defender Martin Caceres to Sevilla on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Uruguayan spent last season on loan with Sevilla after spending the previous campaign loaned to Italian side Juventus. He made 23 league appearances for Sevilla, performing at right back and in central defense.
Caceres' performances persuaded Sevilla to take up the option to make the move permanent and he joins the club for 3 million euros (4.3 million U.S. dollars) in a deal that could see that initial total rise to 4.5 million euros depending on incentives.
Caceres' departure marks a failure for Barcelona in the transfer market. He joined the newly crowned European Champions from Villarreal for 16.5 million euros (23.7 million U.S. dollars) in the summer of 2008, but only made 13 league appearances in the following campaign.
His problems with lack of form and injuries saw Barcelona loan him out to Juventus the following year, but Caceres only played 15 times in Serie A for the Italians before returning to Spain.
This season he has been able to demonstrate some of his talent, but his sale represents a major financial loss for Barcelona, although it will help to finance the signings that Pep Guardiola's side are expected to make over the summer.