This is usually the time of year when Barcelona and Real Madrid are pestering teams about their best players, with their public pressure campaigns often leading to eventual transfer deals.
But the Spanish giants are less stable than normal this summer and do not exude the same swagger towards their business dealings. They are more likely to be sellers than buyers in the coming months, Goal can report, as financial woes exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic must be confronted.
That comes as several burgeoning global superstars are said to be either on the market or nearing availability. Jadon Sancho has already agreed to terms to join Manchester United; Kylian Mbappe, Romelu Lukaku and Erling Haaland have drawn varying levels of interest from top European sides.
Barcelona and Real Madrid have been noticeably absent from those proceedings to this point, and while the latter side will try to shuffle its budget just enough to stage a last-minute August push for Mbappe, the Catalans are not expected to be able to throw their weight around as they usually do beyond finalising a new deal for Lionel Messi.
The situation at Barcelona
Lionel Messi’s imminent contract extension had been a cloud over all dealings, as his high earnings were projected to blow Barcelona well beyond the allowed salary figure in La Liga for 2021-22.
But Messi has agreed to slash his wages in half in a new five-year contract, Goal reported this week.
Still, the club could look to offload players on high wages such as Antoine Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho, Miralem Pjanic and Samuel Umtiti. Plus, forward Martin Braithwaite is reportedly set to move on.
The Blaugrana, favouring cost-effective moves, have added Memphis Depay on a free transfer from Lyon (with a 30 per cent wage cut) and Sergio Aguero on a free transfer from Manchester City.
They are expected to remain in debt through the summer no matter what, with the path to financial stability seen as a long process rather than quick fix.
Sacrifices required for Real Madrid’s Mbappe dream
In contrast to Barcelona, Real Madrid will be selling for the purpose of saving up for the desired purchase of Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe.
They have managed to slash debt by almost €200 million ($236m/£171m) over the past year, according to recently published bookkeeping.
That leaves them with a current debt of €46 million ($54m/£39m).
Sacrifices will still need to be made, then, potentially including the sale of key centre-back Raphael Varane, who has been linked with Manchester United. Captain and fellow defender Sergio Ramos has already departed for PSG.
Barring big-time fundraising, free transfer addition David Alaba may be the only widely recognisable star arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu before the deadline.
On a more positive note for the organisation, the burdensome contracts of Isco and Gareth Bale will expire after the upcoming campaign, freeing up more money for next summer if Mbappe is unattainable right now.
Who benefits from the aforementioned financial struggles?
Reigning La Liga champions Atletico Madrid certainly won’t complain about their rivals being forced to show restraint, especially as they’ve been able to strengthen their own ranks through the announced signing of Rodrigo De Paul.
Many Premier League clubs are also reeling from mounting debt, but Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea appear eager to make moves regardless. If Barcelona and Real Madrid aren’t as involved in the market in the short-term, that’s two fewer big fish to worry about.
Manchester United are set to bring in £73 million Sancho as their marquee signing, while both Manchester City and Chelsea are actively hunting possible £100 million additions at striker, as Goal has reported in recent months.
Liverpool, the other English club to qualify for the Champions League, have treaded more carefully but still secured the £36 million signing of RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate.
In France, meanwhile, PSG are putting together their flashiest window in years even for their luxurious standards. They’ve so far added Ramos, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, winger Achraf Hakimi and midfielder Gini Wijnaldum.
▪︎ By Goal.com
