At the moment, Barcelona appear desperate for a striker. There are certain things that we know to be true when clubs are clearly in the market for something.
- Other clubs will raise the price on their own players
- Agents will offer their players with higher wages
- Clubs are pitted against each other for the same player to further raise the price
As a major spender in world football for decades, Barcelona is no stranger to needing to pay a premium to get the player they want. This is especially true when one considers just how few players can make the grade at the Camp Nou. It makes it difficult for Barcelona to take a chance on a player – every chance costs millions of euros.
It must be said that there is a privilege to having the funds to get overcharged. Barcelona are in that top tier of clubs that can bid on the best players, and winning regularly follows. However, when winning and transfers don’t align, a fan base and the board that is looking to appease it can get desperate.
The fan base gets desperate with vitriol for players that they once cheered and heightened expectations on new recruits. Every new player has to solve the problems, or what was the point of buying them? The board gets desperate much more transparently – buying players in the short term without an eye for the long term.
Being in this spot may be the fault of mismanagement of the first team squad, neglecting the final stage of youth development into the profession ranks, and years of poor business on the market. However, the one thing that can’t be blamed on the club – the use of the name Barcelona to make other players money.
Some agents are smart. Finding a way to attach their client’s name to FC Barcelona can make both the player and agent a ton of money. That money may never be intended to come from Barça, but the clout of the name is enough to increase the price. Many sporting directors around the world can spend just a little extra and get to show their fans that they snagged a player that was linked with Barcelona.
It should be assumed that the likes of Eric Abidal and others aren’t concerned with hollow rumors started by media and agents about players that the club doesn’t want. What they do care about however is when those same rumors are used to ruin their business.
Fans and the media can’t know everything that happened relating to the potential transfer of Rodrigo from Valencia. Reports that seem trustworthy state that Valencia wouldn’t budge on the price – a conceivable notion for why talks break down. However, fans were treated for much of a day by a hypothetical that highly sought-after Sporting CP midfielder Bruno Fernandes would be bought by Barcelona and immediately loaned to Valencia, with Rodrigo coming the other way until the end of the season. If this feels like nonsense, it should.
There may be some truth to the possibilities being discussed, but more likely, this was contrived by someone unaffiliated to Barcelona to raise Fernandes’ price once last time before Manchester United bought the player. A manufactured bidding war helps wallets and is well within the rights of all involved. As Culés, the instinct is to get excited about an attacking midfielder that may look good in the Blaugrana. The unfortunate reality is that when those deals don’t transpire, the fans get restless and the buyers at the club look feckless.
Where reports get more difficult to believe is with younger players. Between Yan Couto, Matheus Fernandes, and Santiago Ramos Mingo, reports would make you believe that all three are on their to the Camp Nou. Of the three, it appears that Ramos Mingo of Boca Juniors is a done deal, but until you see the player signing the contract – believe nothing.
Fernandes meanwhile, is a 21-year-old midfielder for Palmeiras that is properly rated. He hasn’t set the world on fire, but the defensive midfielder does have a reputation as a player good enough for Europe. While multiple outlets eventually reported Barcelona’s interest, most of those sources can always be tracked back to one or two places.
As for Couto, the 17-year-old is considered to be one of the top right back prospects in the world after winning the U-17 World Cup with Brazil. The player would reportedly cost five million euros plus bonuses, but no additional news has come out since the initial reports almost two weeks ago. When deals that appear done go quiet is when skepticism should return.
When it comes to transfers, Barcelona’s name is often worth more than its business. The club has its list and would like to keep things as quiet as possible, but that isn’t always the case. As the final days/hours of the January transfer window arrive, it’s okay to embrace the instinct that the club will be splash some cash. But watch those rumors, they can’t bring them all.
