The Unofficial 2021 Summer Transfer Rumors/Done Deals Thread

[fadster]

What Messi was willing to pay for is irrelevant, they are €200m over the cap and are nowhere near getting close to register players. They are here because of years of mismanagement, €1.2bn in debt (mostly shortish term), €180m of player amortization a year and wages at 80% of turnover pre-covid (for comparison most other big teams were 60% or lower) which is now up to a catastrophic 110%. They clung on to the ESL in a desperate attempt to avoid the consequences of the mess they have got themselves in to.

Realistically they will have to take two or three years of pain, by which time they will have shed some contracts (either through transfer and expiry) and income will come back up although probably not to previous levels but good enough to start strengthening. I don't see them getting relegated anytime soon, and bankruptcy is unlikley as someone (government or private) will step in to prevent it. Alternatively they might team up with Real Madrid to collectively spit the dummy about ESL, the CVC Liga buyout, salary cap and everything else and try the nuclear "quit liga" option to get them to abolish the salary cap rules. Ironically there were no complaints from Barcelona when the salary rules meant they were able to outspend their rivals.

[YayNJ]

Fadster gets it

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by fadster

What Messi was willing to pay for is irrelevant, they are €200m over the cap and are nowhere near getting close to register players. They are here because of years of mismanagement, €1.2bn in debt (mostly shortish term), €180m of player amortization a year and wages at 80% of turnover pre-covid (for comparison most other big teams were 60% or lower) which is now up to a catastrophic 110%. They clung on to the ESL in a desperate attempt to avoid the consequences of the mess they have got themselves in to.

Realistically they will have to take two or three years of pain, by which time they will have shed some contracts (either through transfer and expiry) and income will come back up although probably not to previous levels but good enough to start strengthening. I don't see them getting relegated anytime soon, and bankruptcy is unlikley as someone (government or private) will step in to prevent it. Alternatively they might team up with Real Madrid to collectively spit the dummy about ESL, the CVC Liga buyout, salary cap and everything else and try the nuclear "quit liga" option to get them to abolish the salary cap rules. Ironically there were no complaints from Barcelona when the salary rules meant they were able to outspend their rivals.

Or maybe the Saudis will buy them.....they're the only petro-giant without a pet football club, and Barcelona is a much better target than Newcastle

[gomiamigo]

Originally Posted by MonsterTruck20

Even more depressing and ironic that his salary is one of the reasons for the club's terrible financial situation.

Yeah, that's not the main reason though.

Bartomeu was the real reason, everyone knows it inside and out of La Liga, and to pretend otherwise is just ignoring the facts.

They sold Neymar for 220m euro. Plenty of money to improve the team. Bartomeu then turned down Mbappe at 18 in 2017. Later he turned down Haaland.

He then signed Dembele for 105m + 42m in easily obtained bonuses.

6 months later he signed Coutinho for 160m euros. Obviously, neither of them have played well at Nou Camp.

Next, 75m for De Jong, double what Ajax was hoping for.

Then 120m for Greizmann who's never been a fit, then 28 years old, a record sum for anyone over 25!

Then Pjanic for 60m.

In all from 2014-19 Barca spent over 1 Billion on transfers without improving the team. 565m on the above players alone, not to mention the even more useless players like Braithwaite.


Yes, Messi was highly paid, but agreed to take a huge pay cut to stay in Barca this year. The unresolved issue is that current mgmt couldn't unload the awful contracts that Bartomeu signed.

[MonsterTruck20]

Originally Posted by gomiamigo

Yeah, that's not the main reason though.

Bartomeu was the real reason, everyone knows it inside and out of La Liga, and to pretend otherwise is just ignoring the facts.

They sold Neymar for 220m euro. Plenty of money to improve the team. Bartomeu then turned down Mbappe at 18 in 2017. Later he turned down Haaland.

He then signed Dembele for 105m + 42m in easily obtained bonuses.

6 months later he signed Coutinho for 160m euros. Obviously, neither of them have played well at Nou Camp.

Next, 75m for De Jong, double what Ajax was hoping for.

Then 120m for Greizmann who's never been a fit, then 28 years old, a record sum for anyone over 25!

Then Pjanic for 60m.

In all from 2014-19 Barca spent over 1 Billion on transfers without improving the team. 565m on the above players alone, not to mention the even more useless players like Braithwaite.


Yes, Messi was highly paid, but agreed to take a huge pay cut to stay in Barca this year. The unresolved issue is that current mgmt couldn't unload the awful contracts that Bartomeu signed.

Yes, hindsight is easier than foresight. Bartomeu was a disaster but who actually complained about spending that money for Dembele, Coutinho or Griezmann back in the day?

Moreover, counting Pjanic for 60m is just wrong because selling Arthur for 72m was part of that deal.

[YayNJ]

It stems back much farther than Bartomeu.

They have been mismanaged for decades.

[kyleuk21]

Originally Posted by MonsterTruck20

They pretty much scored the same amount of goals last season. Surely, Messi is younger and more productive as a playmaker but what's ignorant is your take that it's fine for him to earn more than twice as much as any other player in the world and then we should be happy he agreed to a 50% pay cut. Lol.

Messi is a Barcelona legend and he always said that's where he wants to retire because he owes the club everything. Yeah right. Had he stayed, imagine his final season. Every stadium sold out, every city in Spain celebrating his career. None of that will happen. Because he decided he needs a couple of millions more. No club needs a captain like that.

A player like Messi playing for free is the most ignorant thing I’ve ever heard. A few people in this particular board amaze me with their ridiculousness.

[MonsterTruck20]

Originally Posted by kyleuk21

A player like Messi playing for free is the most ignorant thing I’ve ever heard. A few people in this particular board amaze me with their ridiculousness.

That's the third time today that you wrote how important it is that a good player makes sure he gets a huge piece of the cake regardless the circumstances. How about a fourth time?

Looking forward to his press conference tomorrow...

https://twitter.com/Messi_Worldwide/...79738960470016
If only...

[Prospectorsadvantage]

Barca is an embarrassing club. It’s a black eye for la liga that they legitimately are so broke they cannot sign their legend. There is a difference between letting a legend walk because you have moved on and being so broke you can’t register said player.

I think they should sell pedri and start generating funds.

[YayNJ]

Originally Posted by Prospectorsadvantage

Barca is an embarrassing club..

So are Real Madrid. Lets not pretend they don't want the super league for the same desperate reasons Barcelona do.

Both clubs are vile, both cheats, both corrupt, both aided by the state.

[cardfund]

I can't figure out City or Pep. Seems they just spend money for the sake of it.

I wanted to see Messi in the premier league...

[kyleuk21]

Originally Posted by MonsterTruck20

That's the third time today that you wrote how important it is that a good player makes sure he gets a huge piece of the cake regardless the circumstances. How about a fourth time?

Looking forward to his press conference tomorrow...

https://twitter.com/Messi_Worldwide/...79738960470016
If only...

I’m not the one trashing the guy for not playing for free when literally no big player in any sport would do that. I get dumber every time I read something you write. Last reply you’ll get from me since it’s a complete waste of time

[fadster]

As well Barcelona there is a fire sale at Inter Milan. Some rumours went as far as saying that they have to sell pretty much everyone they get bids for though that may be extreme. Hakimi gone (for €60m to PSG), Lukaku good as gone (€115m to Chelsea) and now Martinez looks to be on his way out too (€70m to Spurs) as well as De Vrij (Mino Raiola shopping him around to everyone). They are looking to pick up Dzeko to replace Lukaku to give you an idea of their financial state. A reminder that their parent company (Suning Holdings, via an intermediary) had to dissolve the Chinese Super League Champions Jiangsu FC due to their financial issues.

What the pandemic has ended up doing is highlighting the difference between well run and bad run clubs. Those who have been sailing close to the edge are now having to liquidate players, for the rest it's a chance to take advantage even if it means having to take a calculated short term risk with their finances (the old "buy when there's blood on the streets" philosophy). It's actually led to more activity than some people were expecting.

[avalanchefan21]

Real Madrid supporter here.... ngl I was laughing in stiches when I read messi was leaving. NGL i felt bad when he broke out in tears... guy wants to stay, offers to take a huge paycut and cant make it work

If anyone is interested... love this guy made a good vid talking about the situation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Zsf-WN998

[ac1992]

Originally Posted by fadster

As well Barcelona there is a fire sale at Inter Milan. Some rumours went as far as saying that they have to sell pretty much everyone they get bids for though that may be extreme. Hakimi gone (for €60m to PSG), Lukaku good as gone (€115m to Chelsea) and now Martinez looks to be on his way out too (€70m to Spurs) as well as De Vrij (Mino Raiola shopping him around to everyone). They are looking to pick up Dzeko to replace Lukaku to give you an idea of their financial state. A reminder that their parent company (Suning Holdings, via an intermediary) had to dissolve the Chinese Super League Champions Jiangsu FC due to their financial issues.

What the pandemic has ended up doing is highlighting the difference between well run and bad run clubs. Those who have been sailing close to the edge are now having to liquidate players, for the rest it's a chance to take advantage even if it means having to take a calculated short term risk with their finances (the old "buy when there's blood on the streets" philosophy). It's actually led to more activity than some people were expecting.

Definitely shows why the Spanish clubs and Italian clubs were so desperate to join the super league, Inter and Barca in a mess, and Real Madrid have only brought in Alaba on a free which they have covered by letting Ramos leave on a free and have sold Varane for £40 Million.

Also reading through the rest of the discussion, seems like people don't really seem to understand the Messi situation, even if he did play for free it'd make no difference, they have to be at 70% wage to turnover ratio to sign and register any new player.

With Messi's old contract before he became a free agent it was at 115%, without Messi it's now at 95%.

They basically have to 30-35% more off their wages of the books before they can even register anyone new, currently they'll be paying Depay,Aguero and Eric Garcia a wage but they won't be able to get on the pitch, as Messi's contract expired and he'd be classed as a new signing they same would apply to him even if it was totally free.

I think they have to face up to the reality here, that they simply are going to have suffer for a few years to get their finances in order, seems like they really are going to have sell a valuable asset like De Jong,Pedri or Fati.

Or they are going to have to bite the bullet and potentially see if anyone wants Griezmann, Umtiti, Coutinho or Dembele on a free transfer.

Seems like that won't happen though given how Barca have acted all summer, as it seems they have plowed on ahead thinking that none of the rules would apply to them.

[edwinx1903]

Originally Posted by Prospectorsadvantage

I think they should sell pedri and start generating funds.

That is an absolutely horrendous idea. Pedri is a young player they are still developing and who along with young La Masia players like Puig and Fati they can rebuild their team with. They also don't have market values anywhere near their release clauses.

[edwinx1903]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

So are Real Madrid. Lets not pretend they don't want the super league for the same desperate reasons Barcelona do.

Both clubs are vile, both cheats, both corrupt, both aided by the state.

Flo is the president of the Superleague. That pretty much says it all when it comes to Madrid and the Superleague.

His stance as Madrid president relies on Galatico level signings. They can't afford those at the moment. He desperately wants to break the bank on Mbappe and Haaland at the least now instead of waiting to pick them up as free agents later. He knows the club can't afford those signings at the moment which is why he will not let the Superleague talk end. Since he can't make those signings now, he has to convince the socios that Asensio is better than Mbappe as he did in their meeting a while ago.

Juve also need the Superleague because Italian football has been doing much worse than Spanish football for years. That's why the league has been dominated by Juve for so many years now. Inter have had to let Conte go and have had a bunch of players that were key in winning them the Scudetto and breaking the Juve dominance go because of their financial situation. Smaller clubs have been folding and having to hit reset to work on their financial situations. Clubs have also been sold to new owners as their financial losses are too big for their past owners. It's just an absolute mess.

[edwinx1903]

Originally Posted by cardfund

I can't figure out City or Pep. Seems they just spend money for the sake of it.

I wanted to see Messi in the premier league...

Pep has been on a madman on a spending spree since leaving Barça and has won nothing in Europe in exchange for it. Embarrassing. He's lucky City has all that oil money and hand him a blank check every transfer window.

[MonsterTruck20]

Originally Posted by kyleuk21

I’m not the one trashing the guy for not playing for free when literally no big player in any sport would do that!

I knew you could do it a fourth time. Very proud of ya. You still didn't get it though. I'm not trashing him. I didn't even expect it from him. I'm merely pointing out how playing for free for a season would have aggrandized his already immense legend as a Barcelona player.

So Messi cried today and said he did everything possible to stay!! ("Hice todo lo posible por quedarme, pero no pudo ser").

Now the wage expenses are down to 95% of revenue and still need to reduce it to 70%. And no other player has any incentive to agree to a paycut. It's really entertaining.

[edwinx1903]

Originally Posted by fadster

As well Barcelona there is a fire sale at Inter Milan. Some rumours went as far as saying that they have to sell pretty much everyone they get bids for though that may be extreme. Hakimi gone (for €60m to PSG), Lukaku good as gone (€115m to Chelsea) and now Martinez looks to be on his way out too (€70m to Spurs) as well as De Vrij (Mino Raiola shopping him around to everyone). They are looking to pick up Dzeko to replace Lukaku to give you an idea of their financial state. A reminder that their parent company (Suning Holdings, via an intermediary) had to dissolve the Chinese Super League Champions Jiangsu FC due to their financial issues.

What the pandemic has ended up doing is highlighting the difference between well run and bad run clubs. Those who have been sailing close to the edge are now having to liquidate players, for the rest it's a chance to take advantage even if it means having to take a calculated short term risk with their finances (the old "buy when there's blood on the streets" philosophy). It's actually led to more activity than some people were expecting.

With Lukaku leaving, it seems Inter are holding out on selling Lautaro unless someone pony's up a €90M+ offer which is near his release clause. The only way Spurs spend that much, is if Kane goes to City and they can use some of those funds for his replacement which would of course be Lautaro. Arsenal and Atlético have also enquired about Lautaro but I don't see either club spending that much on a player at the moment.

Let's not kid ourselves. The pandemic isn't just highlighting well run clubs and bad run clubs. It's also highlighting how oil money backed clubs can spend without any concerns like City, Chelsea and PSG but then again English clubs are teflon.

Crazy how English clubs can let players go for little to nothing only to end up having to spend 9 figures to get them back; Pogba and Lukaku for example but of course, English clubs good, French, Italian and Spanish clubs bad.

[YayNJ]

Originally Posted by edwinx1903

but then again English clubs are teflon.

Erm, you what?

https://www.theguardian.com/football...y.leedsunited1

[edwinx1903]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Erm, you what?

https://www.theguardian.com/football...y.leedsunited1

Teflon to fans...

I brought that up when you kept talking about Spanish clubs and ignoring the crazy transfers from English clubs on Thursday:

Originally Posted by edwinx1903

Also, doing a Leeds?

[YayNJ]

Originally Posted by edwinx1903

That is an absolutely horrendous idea. Pedri is a young player they are still developing and who along with young La Masia players like Puig and Fati they can rebuild their team with. They also don't have market values anywhere near their release clauses.

Having to sell your young players because you have mis-spent and acted above your station for a few decades. If that's what they need to do, then that's what they should do.

Barcelona have raided and taken advantage of other clubs for years.

[mfw13]

Rory Smith, the excellent soccer columnist for the NY Times, has an interesting column today pointing out that because the big clubs have inflated wages so much (never mind transfer fees), they are having difficulty selling/loaning out their "surplus" players due to the fact that smaller clubs can't afford the wages.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/07/s...transfers.html

Most players would rather sit on the bench at a big club earning higher wages, rather than take a pay cut in order to move to a smaller club that will give them more playing time.

[kellmuff]

imagine paying Griezmann 750K a week lmao Barca. Scum club. looks good on them.