Barcelona’s transfer strategy has earned nearly €65m from players who never played full season | OneFootball

According to SPORT, over the past year and a half, Barcelona has managed to earn nearly €65 million from the sale of players who, for the most part, had either never made their debut for the first team or had very limited playing time.

Some of these deals have come as a surprise, particularly given that they involve players who were not considered regular fixtures in the senior squad.

One of the most notable transactions was the sale of Nico Gonzalez to Manchester City, which has provided Barcelona with a significant financial return.

This sale is just one example of a broader strategy put in place by the club’s technical staff in recent years.

They have included clauses in player contracts, particularly with La Masia graduates, that allow Barcelona to earn a percentage of future transfer fees. This is part of a deliberate effort to capitalize on the talent coming from the club’s renowned academy.

What’s the story?

In total, the sale of Nico has netted Barcelona €21.8 million, including the €3 million previously paid and the €8 million from future transfer percentages.

Nico Gonzalez has moved to Manchester City. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Other players have also contributed to the club’s coffers, such as Mika Faye, who was sold to Rennes for €10 million, and Julian Araujo, whose transfer to Bournemouth brought in another €10 million.

Chadi Riad’s move to Crystal Palace brought in €9 million, while Marc Guiu’s transfer to Chelsea generated €6 million.

Unai Hernandez’s move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia resulted in €5 million, and Estanis Pedrola’s transfer to Sampdoria brought in €3 million, with the possibility of an increase if Bologna decides to exercise their buy option.

The mastermind

This strategy, which has been carefully orchestrated by Deco and the technical secretariat, has proven to be a “win-win” for Barcelona. It allows the club to generate revenue from player sales while retaining control over their future moves.

The inclusion of future transfer percentages ensures that Barcelona benefits financially if these players go on to achieve greater success elsewhere.

With the rich talent coming through La Masia, Barcelona is ensuring that they are prepared to reap the rewards of their academy even when these players are sold to other clubs.