Complete Barcelona transfer window recap: Messi departure, Griezmann’s deadline day exit and more
The onset of this season’s summer transfer window bred uncertainty as well as some excitement as to what can Barcelona President Joan Laporta do to save the club from the ongoing financial disaster. Lionel Messi’s renewal was probably a top priority.
Shifting and offloading high wage earners who contributed very little on the pitch was another agenda in Laporta’s book. The influx of new faces that would rejuvenate the squad filled the cules with enthusiasm and fresh hope.
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However, the dreams envisioned by the fans came shattering down when the reality of the perilous finances sank in. Then, the news emerged that sent a shockwave across the globe. Despite his desire to stay at Barcelona and doing everything possible from his end to sign, Barcelona failed to tie down Messi to a new contract because it would’ve have been impossible to accommodate the salary of the Argentine without exceeding the La Liga regulations.
Even after letting go of Messi, Barcelona’s wage to revenue ratio stood at 95%. A very unhealthy state of the club, Blaugrana needed to get rid of aging and unfit players with high wages.
On the other hand, Barca snapped up players from the free agent market but were in dire need to reduce the wages, in order to just register the new players. Gerard Pique’s gesture of taking a big pay cut allowed the new signings to be registered with La Liga. Nonetheless, there was enough transfer drama throughout the summer especially on the transfer deadline day as Antoine Griezmann completed a move to Atletico Madrid.