<\/p>\n
It\u2019s safe to say that Barcelona have struggled over the last five years or so, ever since their financial struggles really started to kick in. Under the presidency of Joan Laporta, they\u2019ve tried to work their way back to normality, but it\u2019s been a very slow process.<\/p>\n
\nIbrahim Balde is on trial at Bar\u00e7a Atl\u00e8tic. He’s a centre-back born in 2004 in Ivory Coast. @FCBarcelonaB<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 10, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Some will be restored this summer, with the expected to return to La Liga\u2019s 1:1 rule. However, Barcelona are still very far away from being able to financially compete with Europe\u2019s elite \u2013 and especially their arch rivals, Real Madrid.<\/p>\n
The truth is that Barcelona don\u2019t do much to help themselves with their struggles, even despite the fact that they\u2019ve been deep in the mire. In recent years, they\u2019ve somehow managed to spend big on numerous occasions, and this has caused \u201clevers\u201d to be used to ensure that these deals can happen.<\/p>\n
However, when they\u2019ve spent big, they\u2019ve somehow not managed to sign the right players (for the most part). That has continued this summer, with the recent addition of Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig.<\/p>\n
Olmo was a top choice for Joan Laporta and Deco to be added to Hansi Flick\u2019s squad, despite the fact that Barcelona already had four attacking midfielders: Pedri, Fermin Lopez, Ilkay Gundogan and Pablo Torre. He can be utilised on the left wing, where he\u2019s likely to play, but he\u2019s not a natural option \u2013 unlike the player he\u2019s been signed instead of, Nico Williams.<\/p>\n
Williams would be a statement signing for Barcelona, and great use of the limited funds they have. However, it appears very unlikely that he will join, which is why the decision was taken to go all-out for Olmo.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not only this deal that shows why Barcelona\u2019s transfer market activity has been incredibly questionable. In recent days, the sale of Julian Araujo<\/a> has been negotiated for a fee of \u20ac10m \u2013 not too bad for a player that looked out of favour under Flick. However, for some reason, the majority of those funds could be used on bring Joao Cancelo back to the club.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s recently been reported that Barcelona submitted a loan offer<\/a> for Cancelo \u2013 \u20ac7m loan fee with a \u20ac20m optional buy clause. So, the club would want to re-invest 70% of the funds they\u2019re about to receive from selling Araujo towards re-signing a player that they don\u2019t need, and that may not even be bought permanently.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not like Cancelo had a great season in 2023-24. He was very questionable in big matches, when he had multiple high-profile errors (against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, most notably). It was proven that he cannot be relied upon, which is why it would make more sense to count on the players already at Flick\u2019s disposal.<\/p>\n
Cancelo can play left-back and right-back, but Barcelona are covered in those positions: they have Alejandro Balde, Gerard Martin and Alex Valle on the left, and Jules Kounde, Hector Fort and Valle on the right. This proves that there\u2019s little to no need for the Portuguese to return, and yet they\u2019re pursuing it.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s clear that Barcelona<\/a> need to be incredibly savvy with the limited funds they have, but blowing \u20ac7m on a loan for Cancelo would be mind-boggling. Fortunately, it\u2019s been rejected by Manchester City, and if they had any sense, they\u2019d walk away now. They should be using that money to address areas that need strengthened, or save it for the future.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The post Analysis: Barcelona’s stance on Joao Cancelo perfectly epitomises club’s bizarre transfer strategy<\/a> appeared first on Football Espa\u00f1a<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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