Barcelona pleaded poverty before bringing in Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Co on big-money deals, have baffled Bayern Munich and battled with Chelsea over Jules Kounde… so, how exactly are they able to afford this with no cash?
- Barcelona have been a force in the market this summer despite their finances
- They’ve signed a host of big-name players including Lewandowski and Raphinha
- But how exactly have they been able to afford this summer spending spree?
- Sportsmail looks at how have the Nou Camp outfit have done all this with no cash
Nobody expected Barcelona to be the motor behind the transfer market but that’s the way things have turned out.
Their purchase of Robert Lewandowski pushed Bayern Munich into buying Sadio Mane beforehand.
They have taken Andreas Christensen and will sign Cesar Azpilicueta making room for Chelsea’s major defensive reshuffle but they bumped them out of the way with their successful pursuit of Raphinha leaving Chelsea to sign Raheem Sterling.
Sportsmail looks at how have they done all this with no cash and investigates to what extent mortgaging the club’s future enabled them to be Europe’s big spenders this summer.
Barcelona have been a force in the market this summer despite pleading poverty before it
Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann said this week: ‘It’s the only club in the world with no money but that buys all the players they want’. Is he right to moan?
Well it’s not strictly true that Barcelona have been able to buy anyone they want.
They wanted Erling Haaland remember, and had to settle for Lewandowski – two great strikers but at completely different ends of their career.
They also want Bernardo Silva and Jules Kounde but the former looks like being out of their reach and to get the latter he would need to insist on going to Barcelona on less money than he would get at Chelsea who are now favourites to sign him.
Julian Nagelsmann delivered a parting shot suggesting Barcelona were treated differently
Sevilla defender Jules Kounde is a significant target for Chelsea but Barca are also interested