Barcelona reject an offer for Ilaix Moriba
Not much has changed in the saga involving Barcelona and 18-year-old midfielder Ilaix Moriba. The latest development is the club has rejected a low offer for the player.
According to Sport, the Catalans rejected a bid of €5 million made by an unidentified Bundesliga side. They want at least €15 million fixed as well as a further five to 10 million in add-ons.
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Barcelona has set a minimum offer they’d be willing to accept
Barcelona are unwilling to let Ilaix leave at any price but at the same time have grown pessimistic someone will come in with an offer to their liking.
The problem is other teams know the financial situation Barça face at the moment so teams coming in for the player hold higher leverage. Be that as it may, they are holding firm in their asking price.
What is clear is Barcelona are not going to make another bid for Ilaix. The last bid was their final offer and it is up to his representatives to accept it. There will be no more meetings between the two sides.
Ilaix is currently not part of the first team and is training with Barça B. He has not taken part in any of their preseason games nor will he feature once their season starts. He is set to be in the stands until someone comes in for him or he decides to change his mind.
If he doesn't leave under these conditions or renew his contract, Ilaix awaits a whole year in the stands: he won't play with the first team or with Barça B. [sport]
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 18, 2021
He is facing a season in which he does not play at all but it is an option he and his representatives are willing to take. Their plan is to continue negotiating with other teams and then have something done by the time the winter transfer window opens and thus leave on a free next summer.
It is a possibility Barcelona are also aware of. Their reasoning is they hope their handling of Ilaix serves as a warning to other young players who may think about going this route.
Next. Philippe Coutinho to get one final chance at Barcelona. dark
The situation is an unfortunate one for Ilaix as he was definitely been part of Ronald Koeman’s plans and would have features in the match against Real Sociedad. He now faces the certainty of not playing this season and the uncertainty of how important he might actually be for another team.