At FC Barcelona, they are well aware that given their financial situation, they will need to sell some players and close some big deals in order to sign new players and register them in LaLiga. For now, Barça has secured the arrival of Joan García, although it is not yet official, and the departures of Álex Valle and Lenglet, but they will have to make more moves, some of which may be unexpected and could see them turn to the transfer market.
The fair play situation
Just a few days ago, sporting director Deco made clear the club’s situation ahead of the transfer market. “Barcelona was in a major financial crisis at the start of Laporta’s tenure; it was spending more than it was earning. That’s something you have to correct over time. And in the midst of that process, the president made the bold decision to completely renovate the Camp Nou. We went from a stadium for 90,000 people to one for 50,000, which means a considerable drop in revenue. Today, the club has signed one of the biggest contracts with Nike. We will return to play at the Camp Nou with a capacity of 65,000, and the following year, practically at 100%. The reconstruction process is underway. Currently, the problem is no longer financial, but one of financial fair play, due to the strict rules that exist.”
The rules he refers to are aimed at preventing teams from getting into debt, and right now Barça is outside the 1:1 rule, which means that a club can spend the same amount of money on signings as it earns, either through sales or salary savings. The reason for this is that the club was unable to include the sale of VIP boxes in this financial year, which meant it broke a rule that it is now in the process of returning to with a certificate stating that the seats are built and count towards the salary cap. The club is also looking to offload some players, although some of these moves may be unexpected.
Gerard Martín and his options for leaving
After months of speculation, Barcelona had decided not to make any moves on the wing, either to sign anyone or to let anyone go. The reason for this is that during the absences of Balde and Koundé due to injury, Gerard Martín and Eric García more than filled in for them. In fact, the youth player’s performance on the left wing was so outstanding that it has attracted interest in the market.
In principle, the club’s idea is not to let the player leave as he is part of the squad, but if an offer above €12 million arrives, a sale is not ruled out. There are already interested parties, with Wolverhampton, according to journalist Matteo Moretto, having him on their agenda. Bournemouth has also set its sights on the full-back. In addition, there has also been some interest in the Bundesliga and an official offer is pending. The player has a contract with Barça until 2028.
An alternative on the table
Given his possible departure, there has been much talk about the option of signing Alejandro Grimaldo as a new full-back, but in the last few hours a new option has emerged for the Azulgrana to strengthen their left wing. We are talking about Caio Henrique, the Brazilian full-back from Monaco. The player has previous experience in the Spanish league and has been given the green light by Deco. His signing would cost a similar amount to what would be received for Gerard’s departure, less than $15 million.