Barcelona flop Alex Song joins Rubin Kazan after La Liga giants terminate his contract

Barcelona outcast Alex Song has completed his move to Rubin Kazan, after the Catalan outfit agreed to terminate his contract at the Nou Camp. Last week the Russians revealed they had reached an agreement in principle to sign the former Arsenal and West Ham midfielder, and the move now goes ahead on free-agent terms.

This was the second such deal of the day for Barcelona, coming just hours after they made a similar statement to announce the end of Martin Montoya's contract, with the right-back consequently joining Valencia for free.

Luis Enrique had previously made it clear to both players that they were not in his plans ahead of the 2016-2017 season, having both spent the last campaign out on loan.

Song becomes the seventh player to leave the Nou Camp this mercato, following in the footsteps of Montoya, Marc Bartra, Dani Alves, Adriano, Sandro Ramirez and Alen Halilovic.

Barcelona signed the Cameroon international in the summer of 2012 for around £16m after an impressive spell with Arsenal. However, the 28-year-old midfielder failed to replicate that form at the Nou Camp during his first two seasons in La Liga, playing both as a back-up Sergio Busquets in the holding midfield role and in at the heart of defence.

Barcelona consequently tried to cash-in on him during the last two summer transfer windows in bid to recoup some of the big money paid to Arsenal for his services. However, no club agreed terms with the Catalans over a permanent deal and he was instead sent to West Ham over the last two seasons.

After only making 15 appearances for the Hammers during the 2015-2016 campaign, Barcelona have terminated his contract.

"FC Barcelona and player Alex Song have reached an agreement to terminate the contract that bound the two parties," the club announced. "FC Barcelona wishes the Cameroonian luck and much success in what follows of his professional career."

"Song played 34 games for the first team in the 2012/13 season under Tito Vilanova and a further 31 in 2013/14 when Gerardo Martino was in charge. In 65 games in total, he scored one goal – against Real Zaragoza."

Rubin Kazan, meanwhile, have also made his arrival official.