Barcelona fans weren’t as excited as they used to be when the January transfer window came around but Mateu Alemany has done an extraordinary job as a sporting director at a club where even registering players is a struggle nowadays and yet he has managed to completely revamp the forward line in one window.
Barcelona were recently loaned half a billion euros, which can be paid off over the course of 15 years, by investment bank Goldman Sachs, to help the club’s finances.
It’s not been a good season for the Culers as their club is a complete mess financially, they lost their star man Lionel Messi to PSG, and the performances on the field haven’t been that great.
Expectations were at an all-time low and only departures were expected for the Catalan club this window, but the fans were treated with 3 new signings. Namely Adama Traore, Ferran Torres, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Will these new signings be a massive hit for Barcelona?
Former La Masia graduate, Adama Traore returned to his boyhood club from Wolves on loan. This move was a no-brainer for the cash-strapped Blaugrana. The 26-year-old is the type of player that current boss, Xavi Hernandez wants at the club. A quick, aggressive winger who can stretch the pitch and has the knowledge of Barcelona’s classic style of positional play thanks to his years at La Masia. Traore is already well acquainted with many of his current Barca teammates as he was a part of the Spanish national team for the 2021 Euros.
Manchester City’s prodigy, Ferran Torres was also snapped up in a €55 million deal, which will be paid over 4 years. Barca will only have to pay €13.75 million each year. This is a deal that could prove to be a solid bargain. The Spanish forward departs Pep Guardiola’s side having scored 16 goals and provided 4 assists in 43 appearances for City in all competitions, helping the club win the Premier League and Carabao Cup in the 2020-21 campaign.
Former Arsenal captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was bought in for free after the striker left the Gunners by mutual consent. The Gabonese striker finished top-scorer in the 2018-19 Premier League season after scoring 22 goals. The 32-year-old striker leaves England having featured 163 times for the Gunners, scoring 92 goals and providing 20 assists. This deal makes great sense as Xavi wants quality in the final third; Barca are desperate for a player that can add goals and help them finish in the top four. (via FBref)
Not just the arrivals but even the few departures have been positive for the club this season. The wage bill has been reduced significantly by restructuring Samuel Umtiti’s contract, sending Philippe Coutinho on loan to Aston Villa, who will reportedly pay his entire salary, and cancelling Yusuf Demir’s loan which helped the club avoid the €10 million mandatory buy option.
Sergio Aguero’s recent retirement and decision to sacrifice the second year of his contract, though unfortunate, has seen the club save €6 million, his reported salary.
Ousmane Dembele did not sign the deal offered to him by Barca and is now deemed surplus to requirements. His exit in the summer will free up some wages and will see the club get rid of an expensive flop.
Where will Barcelona finish in La Liga this season?