EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

Barcelona looks to offload outcasts

Julian Araujo

Barcelona is racing against time to manage its financial books and reduce its inflated wage bill. The club has had a successful summer transfer window up until now. But the registration process of the players is where the problem lies. The club could only register four of their new signings after activating its fourth lever.

With the transfer market closing in less than two weeks, the club still has to announce the signing of Alonso. The club would only do so after they make enough space to register the player, who will compete with Jordi Alba for the left-back position. F.C. Barcelona has also informed the world of their interest in Bernardo Silva from Manchester City. It is also looking for a new right-back since Xavi has outcasted Dest.

Barcelona’s approach to reducing the wage bill

As an alternative approach, the club is actively seeking to offload players who are no longer in Xavi’s plans. While Riqui Puig, Coutinho, and Lenglet have all left, either on a permanent deal or through loan deals. The club still has to clarify the future of Braithwaite and Umtiti. Both the players have been asked to leave the club and look for new pastures.

Umtiti joined the club in 2016 and was projected to be the new Charles Puyol. But over the past three years, the player has lost his old self and his berth in the starting lineup. The main obstacle for any move to materialize is his history of injuries. The seriousness and recurring injuries mean Barcelona are yet to have any concrete offer for the player.

For Braithwaite, the case is much trickier. The player was brought in to fill the immediate need for a striker. He, however, has a lucrative contract that no club is offering to match. The player is also said to be happy to warm the bench in the club.

According to Gerard Romero, the club is considering terminating their contracts and letting the players leave for free. The club is frustrated with the situation and believes that terminating the contacts would be the only solution.

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