Barça loan Pjanic to Besiktas and continue to save on wages

BarcelonaDespite the transfer market being closed in the Spanish league, Barça have managed to close one of the portfolios they had pending at the last minute, that of Bosnian Miralem Pjanic, who will finally play on loan at Besiktas. Taking advantage of the fact that the Turkish market was still open, Barça's sporting management managed to close a loan deal in time that will allow the club to achieve two goals. The first, economic, since this season the club will stop paying 2.75 million euros in wages for the player. Besiktas agreed to pay 50% of the player's salary, who was not in Koeman's plans. In fact, the second goal achieved is this, to give an exit to one of the players that the Dutch coach did not want. Pjanic remains under contract at Barça until the 2023/24 season.

Pjanic had arrived at Barça a year ago in a deal closed by the previous board in which economic interests, rather than sporting ones, were paramount. To balance the numbers, Barça and Juve closed a player exchange, sending the Brazilian Arthur to Turin and making the Bosnian come to Barcelona - these operations were valued at over 30 million. The player's high salary did not allow to find an outlet in the Italian market, where he has a good reputation for his good role in Roma and Juve, but finally Besiktas, who will be able to register him to play in the Champions League, has become the outlet for the player born in Luxembourg, son of Bosnians. Pjanic's departure joins players like Messi, Griezmann, Emeron, Ilaix Moriba or Junior Firpo, operations that allow the club to stop paying around 150 million in wages this season. Thanks to these savings, Barça could now face a signing when the January market opens.

Collado, aside

Pjanic's departure will not mean that one of the players who are also looking for an outlet, Alex Collado, have a shirt. In fact, Collado learned yesterday that he has been left without a first-team record, but also does not appear in the reserve team, so he could face a few months without playing while waiting to find a way out. Collado was practically ready to leave on loan to Sheffield United in the English Football League Championship, but the operation was not closed. Ronald Koeman has made it clear throughout the pre-season that he does not count on Collado, who was the captain of the reserve team last season.