Alen Halilovic impressed on loan at Sporting Gijón last season, and there was some expectation that the young Croatian would return to Barcelona to break out into the first team and show all of his amazing potential. Then he was inexpicably sold to the Bundesliga for just €5 million and joined Hamburg, although Barça did keep a buy-back clause on the Croatian.

Playing in the first division of a different league was certain to help Halilovic in his development as a player, but as it turns out, he didn't play. At all. He struggled to get into the first team, and was out of the bench for most of Hamburg's matches lately.

So what's next for Alen? A return to La Liga, and six months to impress his new team, and Barcelona for that matter.

Halilovic to UD Las Palmas all but done according to Bild. €1m loan fee for rest of season + option to sign him permanently for €4m. #HSV — Daniel Busch (@dan_bu) January 24, 2017

Hamburg hope that Halilovic plays well at Las Palmas, because then Las Palmas would pay the €4 million to sign him permanently on top of the €1 million loan fee and Hamburg would get the money back. German football didn't help Halilovic, but now he has a chance to play. Las Palmas have a very exciting brand of football and young, skilled, smart players like Alen always get a shot. If Jonathan Viera can be the one of the best midfielders in La Liga this season, so can Halilovic.

Source told Barça Blaugranes that the club have kept their €6 million buy-back clause in this transfer, much like they did when Denis Suarez moved from Sevilla to Villarreal last season. It's a very similar deal, and the Blaugrana hope that the outcome is the same. Denis played amazing for the Yellow Submarine and built himself into a Barcelona player.

The new team is a perfect place for Halilovic to build himself into a Barça player as well. We know he has the talent. He just need minutes, commitment, confidence, and a style of play that allows him to demonstrate his best qualities. Las Palmas will give him that.

Good luck, Alen.