The scales that Marc Casadó would not like to tip

BarcelonaLa Masia has always been a precious treasure for Barça. An identity based on investing in players trained in the youth academy that has taken Pep Guardiola, Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernández, Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí to the elite.However, it also served as a way to raise money for players who don't have a place in the first team. Famous names like Àlex Valle, Nico González, and Ilaix Moriba have had to seek a place elsewhere in exchange for a transfer. This formula has generated close to €200 million over the last 10 years. Both Josep Maria Bartomeu (2015-2020) and Joan Laporta (2021-2025) have used La Masia to make ends meet. Now, a potential transfer for Marc Casadó, a situation the Vallecas native would like to avoid, would allow Laporta to surpass the €100 million mark in sales of youth-trained players during the current term.

The departures of Araujo and Christensen in the axis of defense were ruled out after Iñigo Martínez will leave for Saudi Arabia on his own free will., now theoverbooking of players is concentrated in midfield, where Casadó must compete with Fermín, Gavi, De Jong, Olmo, and Bernal. The club says that if the former reserve team captain is paid more than 30 million euros, he could be considered for departure. Last season, he gradually lost prominence when De Jong regained his stripes due to injury. Furthermore, Bernal, who was already a starter ahead of the Valladolid native before tearing his cruciate ligament, would also be considered when he becomes available again. For now, Casadó is not considering leaving, but rather fighting for playing time. However, the rumors surrounding his uncertain future are rife and are based on Barça's financial needs and the interest of several teams in his services. At Son Moix, the venue of the team's first La Liga victory, he was, along with Christensen, the only outfield player who didn't play.

Casadó's hypothetical departure, the second most expensive

In the last five years, approximately 90 million euros have been earned from players who, like the Catalan midfielder, were trained at La Masia. The most common method used by the current board was to sell for a low price and retain a percentage of a future sale. This has resulted in approximately 25 million euros. Ilaix, Aleñá, Monchu, and Collado have left just over half a million, Nico around 13 million, and Chadi Riad just under 10 million. Barça also retains a 50% stake in Estanis Pedrola, now in Italian football; Riqui Puig, currently in Major League Soccer; Òscar Mingueza, at Celta de Vigo with a 20 million release clause; and Mika Mármol, at Las Palmas with 10 million. In addition, the club holds a 20% stake in the capital gain (calculated from the profit it would make on a future sale) of Sergi Domínguez, who was transferred this summer to Dinamo Zagreb for 1.2 million euros, and a 15% stake in the capital gains of Eman Kospos, a youth center back who was sold to Fiorentina.

During Laporta's second term, only two youth-team players have surpassed the €20 million transfer mark. One is Ilaix, for whom €22.6 million (including variables) was paid, split between 16 million and €6 million in a first deal with Leipzig and €600,000, which Barça received this summer after acquiring him from Celta Vigo. The other is Nico González, who left a total of €21.82 million in the club's coffers. It could have been more, but before selling him to Manchester City, Porto paid €3 million for the 20% stake Barça held. This resulted in €10.3 million instead of the €20.6 million they would have received had the initial 40% been maintained. Marc Guiu and Álex Valle each paid €6 million, while Ferran Jutglà and Unai Hernández each received €5 million.

All of them, however, are far from the most expensive sale of a player trained at La Masia: Cesc Fàbregas. After leaving Arsenal during their training period, the Maresme native returned to Camp Nou for around 35 million. Three seasons later, Chelsea paid 33 million and he became the highest-paid youth player ever. Now, if Casadó's figures prove correct, he would move into second place on the podium and surpass Pedro Rodríguez, transferred to Chelsea for 27 million, and Thiago Alcántara, sold to Bayern for 25 million. But all three left with more than 100 games played in the elite. In Casadó's case, he has played 41 matches, with one goal and six assists.

Bartomeu also sold for a value close to 100 million

The previous board, headed by Josep Maria Bartomeu, had similar figures to Laporta's. Between 2015 and 2020, around €95 million was collected. In his case, the biggest deal was that of Adama Traoré. The winger, who returned to Barça on loan in 2022, left another €10 million in variables after moving to Aston Villa. Around €12 million was also collected for Gerard Deulofeu. Other deals included Marc Bartra, for €8 million to Borussia Dortmund; Marc Cucurella, for whom a final profit of around €10 million was obtained; and Carles Pérez, transferred to Roma for another €11 million.3.5 million in variables.