FC Barcelona have registered three new players for their 2024/2025 La Liga opening match against Valencia. … (+)
FC Barcelona has signed three new players ahead of the 2024/2025 La Liga season opener against Valencia at Mestalla.
Barca made their biggest transfer of the summer so far before the weekend, agreeing to pay RB Leipzig $60 million (€55 million) plus a further $7.6 million (€7 million) in add-ons for 2024 Euro winner Dani Olmo.
On Sunday, SPORT reported that Olmo’s Spanish teammate Nico Williams has agreed to join the Blaugrana, but the increase in his release clause to $67.8 million (€62 million) is a sticking point given the outlay for Olmo.
Barca paid far less – just a few million dollars, according to the same newspaper – for Pau Victor, who impressed on the pre-season tour of the USA with Barca’s opening goal against Manchester City and a brace at Real Madrid’s expense in a rainy New Zealand edition of El Clasico.
But apart from that, Barça’s well-documented economic problems make it difficult not only for the club to sign new squad members, but also to register them while respecting the limits of Financial Fair Play.
For example, players like Olmo and Pau Victor are currently not allowed to play in the La Liga season opening match against Valencia at Mestalla on Saturday.
But while Barca had just started its Joan Gamper Trophy match against AS Monaco in Europe on Monday evening, SPORT The fact that the Catalans have registered three new players in the Spanish top league was highlighted.
They are Clement Lenglet, Ansu Fati and Olympic gold medalist Eric Garcia, who are interesting choices to say the least.
Although Lenglet and Fati Flick impressed in pre-season, both players have been linked with possible departures from the club.
Lenglet has to be fired because his astronomical salary was increased by payments deferred during the pandemic.
On the other hand, Fati is currently injured, but sporting director Deco has informed him through his agent Jorge Mendes that there is no place for him in the starting eleven. SPORT says.
As for Garcia, his inclusion is perhaps the least surprising of all, however it is worth noting that he was prioritised over fellow centre-back Inigo Martinez and has also been deemed surplus to requirements in the past.
Above all, this transfer could be an attempt to show potential buyers that the club still values the trio.
