The coronavirus changed all the rules of the game in a world soccer pass market that had inflated player prices. But Barcelona took clear and precise steps on their great ambition for the next season: assemble a mega team with Lionel Messi and the additions of Neymar (28 years old) and Lautaro Martínez (22). Are you in a position to add the two forwards? Will you make the effort?
Plan A is to have a luxury lead to return to being the giant that devastated Europe. This is what they promised to Messi. And in that direction they walk through these hours, especially because the flea It has an exit clause next May and the idea is that it is comfortable and with high sports goals.
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Technical director Quique Setién has already clarified that he is delighted that they get two top-level players. Since the Brazilian decided to go to PSG, in each pass book the Barsa footballers are the ones who publicly ask for the return of Ney.
In several interviews, Messi doubted that the club has done what is necessary to repatriate his friend from São Paulo. The Argentine for now prefers to remain on the sidelines and was called to silence.
Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi celebrate a goal in Barcelona.
Photo: Reuters
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What will they do in Paris? The relationship between the former Santos striker and the club has long been frayed. The club president, billionaire Nasser Al-Khelaifi, knows that the player wants to go to Catalonia. In fact, a few days ago the newspaper Sports world He reported on his cover that Neymar is willing to charge 50% less than what they offered him in France, in order to play again with Messi and Suárez.
Leonardo, sports director of the Parque de los Príncipes team, proposed to renew the contract until 2025 (expires in 2022), in exchange for 38 million euros per year. For now he did not respond. The footballer will return to Paris on May 11 and I would say that he is not going any more.
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How much does it cost Ney? The specialists assure that all the chips will be devalued between 10 and 30%, due to the Covid-19. Transfermarkt, a specialized soccer player listing site, valued it at 130 million euros, while the CIES Observatory did so between 120 and 160 million. Away were the 222 million that PSG paid to take him in 2017. But PSG could accept a player in return (Griezmann?).
Barcelona’s big bet is Lautaro Martínez. And they were already on the attack. The first offer, according to the Italian press, was 70 million euros, plus Semedo and Vidal. But Inter, in direct contact between clubs, is hard: wants the 111 million of the termination clause. Equally, it would have probed to include other weight players and a barter was even named by the French Griezmann.
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Setién fantasizes with an attack that has Luis Suárez with Lautaro and a few meters behind the talent of Messi and Neymar. At Betis, he used a system with three in the background, three flyers, two creatives and two points. It would not be strange if he took that idea to Catalonia.
Lautaro’s insistence is clear: he is young, talented and with all the potential to be the “9” who will one day assume the role of Suarez. In addition, he has the approval of who would be the DT in a not too distant time: Xavi Hernández.
Lautaro Martínez, crack of Inter.
Photo: Reuters
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Barcelona has almost sold Coutinho to Chelsea for 90 million. He would no longer frowned upon Dembélé (worth between 70 and 80 million) or Griezmann. Vidal (20 million), Semedo (32 million), Aleñá (18 million) and even Sergi Roberto (rejected 65 million) also appear as exchange currency.
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And Messi? It has a clause that would allow you to leave Barcelona at no cost. Of course, you must notify in May, before the markets open. The Argentine put the stick high to the leaders, that every end of season they must work to arm ambitious projects.
The relationship between President Bartomeu and the campus is deteriorated. The opposition talks about corruption, there were resignations and the elections that were going to be in 2021 were going to be brought forward for this year. The coronavirus arrived to cool a complicated political climate.
