The calm before the storm. From June to the end of August, FC Barcelona fueled transfer rumours, without being a player in them. The proof with Neymar, who finally left for Saudi Arabia, but above all a relatively very calm transfer window in the direction of arrivals. If Ilkay Gündogan and Inigo Martinez, free, landed in Catalonia, only Oriol Romeu represented a transfer with some compensation (3.40 million euros from Girona). The sign of a club limited by a delicate economic situation. And this despite the integration of the young prodigy Lamine Yamal.
Departures to fill, urgently
In the middle of August, Paris Saint-Germain came to play spoilsport by interfering in the Ousmane Dembélé file. The Parisians, aggressive as possible and well destined to enlist the Catalan right winger, have won their bet by being sufficiently convincing to bring the former Rennes player to the capital. A heavy loss on an already unexciting right side. Then, in the last days or even the last hours of the transfer window, Ansu Fati saw himself going on loan to Brighton, in order to revive under the leadership of Roberto De Zerbi, while Ez Abde flew to Bétis Sevilla, definitively ( 7.50 million euros). Looted, the Blaugranas had to react, and they did.
Two João in one
“Clutch”, the Catalan club was. By recruiting João Félix and João Cancelo just before the end of the summer transfer window, Xavi and his team offer themselves two important reinforcements which could potentially find a place in the XI, in the long term. Yet, according to brand, the Barça coach was more than reluctant to bring in the center forward from Atlético Madrid. Worse, Xavi wanted another midfielder, à la Giovani Lo Celso. But the departures of Ansu Fati and Ez Abde changed the tactician’s mind, who after consultation with Deco, gave the green light for the Portuguese. “We thought that in our conditions it was impossible for João Félix to come. If the player hadn’t made this effort, he wouldn’t have come. We tried everything and here it is”rightly declares the Catalan sports director, about the financial effort made by João Félix
to come, during the presentation of his new playmaker.
At the same time, João Cancelo officially left Manchester City, also on loan for a season, even if this transfer had already been in the small papers for several weeks. In the end, FC Barcelona strengthened considerably in extremis, at the very end of the transfer window, with two quality players. Better, the latter have everything to gain in Catalonia, since they must revive after the last mixed months in their respective clubs (Chelsea / Bayern Munich). Something to reassure the Culés.
