Barca Transfers and Rumors

[serghei]

Flipping players is always a legit secondary objective and a good fail safe, to recoup the investment in case the player doesn't adjust and doesn't deliver the expectations for whatever reasons. We can make some money out of this in some cases.

Lower level teams don't have the pull to get these players when said players have higher ambitions, but many still have good careers at a lower level after they fail to reach the high expectations of big clubs, look at Digne. Even Trincao did fine after Barcelona at a lower level. Todibo also. Malcom secured his future also. We signed him for 40m from Bordeaux, didn't work, and then got sold on for big sums, probably earns big money in Saudi league in the present. He is set for life.

Just because you are not good enough for Barcelona, it doesn't mean your career as a young player stops dead. There's plenty to do for these players as there are many teams operating at lower level and much less pressure that still have ambitions and objectives of their own. And most importantly, they have money to spend. They aren't gonna land the big players, and instead overpay for what they can get and players who are willing to join them.

Reselling is much more of an issue with flops that cost huge sums and are tied with big contracts. It's much more of a risky investment than young players you sign for 10-30m. You should not have much issues getting your money back if not more with those players. And that's only in the negative scenario that they fail to deliver on the promise.

Fans often see some players play for Barcelona, then call the players bums because they are not elite, completely overreacting regarding the that player's worth on the market. As if the only players that cost big money are the elite ones. However bad you think a player is for Barcelona, there's so may teams out there who would find good use for those players. And the more athletic the player is, with attributes such as speed, strength, athleticism etc., the more attractive that player will be for other clubs operating outside of La Liga.

 

[Porque]

Well, this would be closer to a Faye, Marlon, Mingo, that RB who broke his leg deal than the above. In retrospect a few those worked out splendidly.

The above all moved to the A side with higher expected potential. It regards to Digne, from PSG.

 

[serghei]

Well, this would be closer to a Faye, Marlon, Mingo, that RB who broke his leg deal than the above. In retrospect a few those worked out splendidly.

The above all moved to the A side with higher expected potential. It regards to Digne, from PSG.

Yeah, but if the potential is not judged with A side in mind, then the point is what? Land many of those tier C or D talents hoping we somehow get lucky? Or... what?

Improving the B team so the players there have more quality around them and maybe promote to 2nd tier?

 

[Porque]

Yeah, but if the potential is not judged with A side in mind, then the point is what? Land many of those tier C or D talents hoping we somehow get lucky? Or... what?

Different categories of risk to potential ratio I guess.

We have a track record of nurturing (and spotting) low cost defensive signings though. More so than offensive flipping.

So probably the target is that high end theh reach the first team (like Araujo) and low end that we provide a platform to sell at a profit (like Faye).

Purely talent wise Faye and Todibo had it for example, but by all reports not mentally there. So part of the gamble on their paths was that the Barcelona environment could mature and tamper them. And then let them go before it devalues them.

Then if you got a guy like Bara involved you get both a talented player and a board/director kickback.

This type of deal rarely goes wrong. It's just the level we have to operate at as we can't consistently compete with the Bournemouths for talent acquisitions, let along the Chelseas.

And even when we could, agents preferred to advise to move to the mid-level sides like RedBull and Dortmund before us anyways to get more commissions and sign on fees.

 

[serghei]

Our only notable products in decades defensively were Pique and Cucurella, no? Players who went through our ranks and became top defenders. But the key part is both had a lot of their development done to reach that level outside of the club. They probably learned a lot in EPL defensively. I think Pique said he learned a great deal in his four years at United. Cucurella went up levels only after he left the club.

I think defensively, other clubs, and football schools do it better than us. I wouldn't personally trust La Masia and Barca B to fully prep a CB for world class level. First team yes, lower ranks no.

I believe if we ever land a top young CB, it will be from outside of the club, not within. And don't mention Cubarsi.

 

[Porque]

I was thinking more of reselling than LaMasia. I think that list has been more profitable than actual LaMasia academy developed. Off top my head.

I could do a dig but it's probably not worth it. Guys like Alberto Navarro (U19 who went to Atalanta made us 3m or so and Kospo to Fiorentina a few m too. I guess Kospo falls into the reseller category too though

 

[serghei]

I was thinking more of reselling than LaMasia. I think that list has been more profitable than actual LaMasia academy developed. Off top my head.

I could do a dig but it's probably not worth it. Guys like Alberto Navarro (U19 who went to Atalanta made us 3m or so and Kospo to Fiorentina a few m too

Reselling makes sense. Like how we leveraged our club's stature to sign Todibo on low cost. I think those signings are very good and make sense. But they are still higher profile talents whose lower price is very contextual. I don't see much chances to make money on players who are cheaper not because of some external factors, but because they are rated as not that great and we somehow make them great with our system and Barca B environment.

 

[khaled_a_d]

Yeah, but if the potential is not judged with A side in mind, then the point is what? Land many of those tier C or D talents hoping we somehow get lucky? Or... what?

Improving the B team so the players there have more quality around them and maybe promote to 2nd tier?

It is a bet, with a little safety net.

We have signed Marlon, Santiago Bueno, Moussa Wague among others. But only Araujo and Martin legitimately worked out for first team (regardless of our opinion on them) while the likes of Marlon, Pau Victor has essentially paid for the price of the others.

It is why we go for the cheapest ones, low risk high reward

 

[DonAK]

This team need immediate quality and experience. Signing young talents is great, but we cannot continue to have a starting XI where over 50% of it are kids.

If Deco fails to sign someone like Schlotterbeck in the summer who Flick is reportedly vouching hard for as well then he need to walk. Tough job or not I'm tired of this idiot.

Only issue now is that German media is reporting that Real Madrid are eyeing him too as Huijsen has been disappointing so far.

It's not often that a LCB that literally checks all the boxes becomes available. Tall, physical, great on the ball, reasonably quick, young with the added bonus of experience at defending in suicidal setups too.

 

[serghei]

I think it could be hard to land a player like that, Schlotterbeck and Guehi will look for a contract that sets them for life, very very high wage most likely and potentially signing on bonuses. I am willing to accept not being able to secure an expensive player, but I need to see something done defensively that does not include signing bums like Cancelo.

If we can't go for rated players with some experience in big games, I need to see us landing a very promising CB (preferably someone more advanced in his development, so roughly 20-23 years of age). Somebody fast, strong, who is hard to beat 1 vs 1 but also not a complete moron or technically inept.

And the reason for this is because I firmly believe we need more than 1 CB. We need 2 CBs, one younger but very good, and one older with experience. I would make a higher priority to land first the more experienced one, preferably 23-28 years of age, but if it's not possible, the 2nd one should be main priority.

I actually like Garcia more in any position other than CB, be it fullback or DM. We basically need replacement for Araujo for his smart and technically capable version, and replacement for Christensen with a younger version, not too dissimilar in style. Cubarsi and Martin can do OK as 3rd and 4th options. As starters they are completely out of their depth.

 

[serghei]

The CB options are basically tragic. It's so bad, that the back-up fullback that was a complete nobody last season is a candidate for our starting CB position and defensively seems arguably the most capable in the entire squad. It's absolutely hilarious.

 

[Barcaman]

Good news is that Flick says we do need a defender:

| Hansi Flick: “When I look at the defensive line, I think we need ONE MORE player there (defender). We’ll have to wait and see, it has to be something that makes sense.” #fcblive

 

[TheStig]

I'm sure Flick knows we need a shitload of players, it doesn't mean he'll get any. Saying we need a defender and Deco actually convincing someone to come, paying for him and registering him it's a very different thing. I don't see how we could sign anybody except maybe Cancelo if he insists to come to us (he'll probably go to somewhere where they can pay his salary and he's not a defender).

I think we won't get any new player in the winter and maybe 1-2 for free or cheap in the summer. Most of the guys here are too optimistic, just ignoring the state of this club.

 

[Barcaman]

I'm sure Flick knows we need a shitload of players, it doesn't mean he'll get any. Saying we need a defender and Deco actually convincing someone to come, paying for him and registering him it's a very different thing. I don't see how we could sign anybody except maybe Cancelo if he insists to come to us (he'll probably go to somewhere where they can pay his salary and he's not a defender).

I think we won't get any new player in the winter and maybe 1-2 for free or cheap in the summer. Most of the guys here are too optimistic, just ignoring the state of this club.

Sure he knew and knows. But he rarely speaks publicly about it.