How to convince a player to leave a winning team

BarcelonaWith less than a week to go until the end of the financial year, work is intense in the Barça offices. In both the financial and sporting departments, the club is using its last ammunition to close with the green light. With no matches on the horizon or sponsorship deals pending, all that remains is to wait for the auditor to validate the 100 million euros from seat sales. VIP and speed up the process of getting rid of the discarded players. Ultimately, it's about balancing the books and returning to the 1:1 rule. the one that allows you to sign in normally, are parallel objectives.

For weeks, and even months, the club has had a clear list of players who are not in the best interest of either the sports secretariat or the coach. But wanting them out is one thing, and getting them to leave is another. It's not easy to convince someone to abandon the Barça ship: on the one hand, due to the economic conditions—at Barça, the pay is very good, in general—and on the other, due to the quality of life in Barcelona. Furthermore, there is a sense of optimism at the club, where with the change of coach and the crop of young players led by Lamine Yamal, the thesis prevails that there is a winning group capable of aspiring to the Champions League.

It is precisely that feeling that made Frenkie de Jong change his mind. The Dutch footballer seemed predisposed to leave Barça about a year ago, and instead is now finalizing the details of his renewal. The player's willingness wasn't enough; the club also needed to get back on track. But between the insistence of President Laporta—a great supporter of the Dutchman, often referred to as someone who "sets the style"—and the strong season under Flick, the situation has become a mess.

Negotiations between Ansu Fati and Monaco are resuming.

However, there's no turning back for players like Ansu Fati. Plagued by a knee injury first, and then by several muscle setbacks, what a few years ago was a young star will end up leaving through the back door. Negotiations with Monaco were stalled, although they have resumed in recent days. Ansu knows he won't get playing time at Barça and reluctantly agrees to leave. He didn't want to go to Saudi Arabia, and everything points to him finding refuge in the Monegasque principality, provided the clubs reach an agreement: a loan with an option to buy and a split of the player's salary, which amounts to 10 million euros, of which Monaco will pay between 40 and 80%. If the deal is finalized before June 30, Ansu could benefit from the Principality's tax advantages, as he would be living there for at least six months.

The other name is Andreas Christensen. In an interview in The Vanguard Deco admitted there was an excess of center-backs in the squad and backed Ronald Araujo's continuity. Thus, he opened the door to the Dane, who has been severely hampered by injuries this past season—in fact, thanks to his long-term absence, Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor were able to sign at the end of August. He has received offers from Saudi Arabia, which, in addition to a good salary, would provide Barça with leap-year money. The player wrinkles his nose and isn't entirely convinced, but the Camp Nou offices are optimistic, believing they could close the deal before June 30th. Thus, Christensen and Ansu are the two fastest ways to earn money and salary margin immediately.

Ter Stegen's departure is postponed until mid-July

On the other hand, Ter Stegen's series drags on. It is well known that The goalkeeper is not included in Deco's sporting planning., once the signing of Joan Garcia has been completed and with Szczesny's contract renewal on the horizon. But the Mönchengladbach player isn't willing to leave just like that, especially a year before the World Cup, where he could be Germany's first-choice player in that major footballing event. According to those close to him, he wants to report for the start of Barça's preseason on July 14 and fight for a starting spot. If he ultimately leaves, the deal would be finalized in the final stretch of the summer transfer window.

Of the other notable names, Oriol Romeu—returning from loan at Girona—has one year left on his contract and Barça has already told him they don't count on him. Right now, the most likely option is for him to agree to a contract termination and return to Montilivi. Pau Víctor, on the other hand, could go on loan: Betis and Girona have expressed interest, although no agreement has yet been reached. And Iñaki Peña, the biggest loser in goal, is looking for a team that can guarantee him a starting spot, while Barça believes it can command a transfer fee, even if it's a small fee.