BARCELONA: Barcelona were stuffed with optimism and hope when the transfer window opened, when current president Joan Laporta was pronouncing the total merely things. Fast-forward to September 1 and fans and pundits alike can’t moderately think what they’ve viewed.
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DOWNHILL FROM THE START
Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia, Emerson Royal and Memphis Depay all arrived early as a current squad took form and optimism grew. Alternatively, it rapidly seemed all was no longer effectively.
With out these players, their wage invoice was already mammoth – over 100% of their profits and LaLiga’s Financial Fascinating Play guidelines meant they’ll merely no longer register their current arrivals.
Lionel Messi’s contract expired on June 30, meaning he was a free agent – however the club said all the pieces was below control.
MESSI BOMBSHELL
That every one modified on August 5 when Barca dropped a bombshell: Messi would be leaving, citing “financial and structural barriers”. Laporta explained the club was in extinguish and had a acquire worth of minus 451 million euros ($532.86 million). They had tried to defer contract payments for Messi, however the league would no longer allow it.
With Messi long gone, their wage invoice was still at 95%. Extra sales were made, however they were barely a drop within the ocean.
WAGE REDUCTIONS
So came the next portion of a moderately surreal window: the club publicly admitted they were going round, cap in hand, asking senior players to agree to salary reductions and rate deferrals.
Gerard Pique was first, permitting Emerson, Depay and Garcia to be registered. Jordi Alba and captain Sergio Busquets adopted swimsuit on gash-off date day, meaning Aguero may per chance per chance perhaps lastly be signed as much as LaLiga.
DEADLINE DAY DRAMA
Remarkably, August 31 began out with local media reports pronouncing Barca were in for Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix. When these rumours were pushed apart, Dani Olmo’s title seemed. It rapidly grew to alter into lumber these names had been leaked to preserve fans delighted, with the point of passion purely on sales and wage invoice good purchase.
Barca label Griezmann from Atleti for €120m. That deal funds Atleti’s signing of Joao Felix & accelerates Barca’s financial disaster which leads to Luis Suarez becoming a member of Atleti for a nominal rate. Suarez fires Atleti to league title & Barca compelled to offload Griezmann wait on to Atleti.
— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) August 31, 2021
Novel signing Emerson was offered to Tottenham Hotspur, then Ilaix Moriba to RB Leipzig. Then, at 1: 30am CET, Barca said Antoine Griezmann, a player they signed for 120 million euros in 2019 from Atletico Madrid, had been loaned wait on to his feeble club.
NEW REALITY
They managed to elevate in a current signing, however per Barca’s austere current fact it was Luuk de Jong, 31, on loan from Sevilla. It was a cosmopolitan summer season for the Catalans. But after flying too conclude to the sun all over again they obtained burned, and were made to pay the closing worth for years of economic mismanagement.
