FC Barcelona’s financial recovery has forced the club to make tough decisions in the past few months. Not many players have been signed, a percentage of Camp Nou VIP boxes have been sold in advance, and many are on the off-loading list.
However, thoughtful planning has led to an unexpected $67 million bonus. It includes a series of moves from Barca, having most players who haven’t even debuted. Let’s analyse Deco’s brilliant work in making these moves happen.
A Much Needed Monetary Boost For Barca
The Catalans have finally started making financial matters smoother after achieving the 1:1 rule. While many players were speculated to join the club this winter, none has been signed yet. Quite a few players have been offloaded and smart clauses in contracts have generated significant revenue.
Deco is at the wheel of the sporting project, and with his help, the club is focused on maximizing profits from La Masia and fringe players. The latest example is Nico Gonzalez’s move to Manchester City, which has earned Barca a hefty €24 million. The Catalans added a 40% future sell-on clause to his contract when selling him to Porto in the summer of 2023.
Many other player sales, including Mika Faye (€10M), Julian Araujo (€10M), Chadi Riad (€9M), Marc Guiu (€6M), Unai Hernández (€5M), and Estanis Pedrola (€3M), have cumulatively made $67M to Barca in a span of 1.5 year. It may not be the activity that excites fans, but this work will keep the club stable in future transfers.
Deco’s Smart Strategy is Paying Off
Deco has worked on many of these deals for several months since becoming the sporting director in 2023. He has ensured that the talented La Masia prospects don’t leave for free or at a discount. Instead, smart clauses have been added to their contracts so Barcelona can keep a percentage of their future sales.
Another interesting thing about these transfers is that most of these players are ‘fringe players’ and have not even played for the first team. Instead of keeping them waiting, Deco has cashed them early and held stakes in their future, too, if they develop nicely.
Will Barcelona Regret Letting These Players Go?
Even though Barca will enjoy these profits, there is always a risk when selling young players. Some talented players like Xavi Simons, Take Kubo, and Mingueza have been sold in recent years. They have developed amazingly in their new clubs. Nico Gonzalez, once deemed Busquet’s heir, is now set to join Guardiola’s City. He has the ability to become one of the best midfielders in the world. If he becomes a global superstar in City, it might haunt Barca in the future.
Deco’s work behind the scenes has given Barca a financial cushion, but more players should be offloaded, especially in the summer transfer window. For now, culers should be happy with this surprise cash inflow in challenging financial times.