Barca's operation exit picks up pace with seven departures

Barcelona need to rid themselves of some fat salaries. They can’t register Lionel Messi or any of the four summer signings. President Joan Laporta has a lot of tough decisions to make.

In the last two weeks the president has accelerated in terms of operation exit. They have let seven players go, in addition to Juan Miranda who departed at the start of June.

Jean-Clair Todibo was the first to go among the recent departures at the end of June, heading to Nice for 8.5m euros + 7m in variables. Two days later Barca sacked Matheus Fernandes and sold Konrad de la Fuente to Olympique Marseille for 3m euros. They loaned Francisco Trincao to Wolves and sold Junior Firpo to Leeds for 15m euros. The latest to leave have been Sergio Akieme (3.5m to Almeria), and Carles Alena (Getafe, 5m).

In total Barca have received 35m euros and saved seven salaries, albeit low ones. Every little helps. It’s also a message to other players; the board will work tirelessly to rid the squad of players who are not useful.

They have offered Samuel Umtiti a free transfer but he was not interested, knowing no side will match his salary. Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic also must leave, with some interest in him but he will have to lower his salary demands. For now they don’t seem to be willing to make much of an effort so have started pre-season with Koeman.

Monchu is set to leave for Granada, while Martin Braithwaite and Antoine Griezmann are also potentially leaving. They will get offers, for sure, so Barca aren’t in a hurry. 

Paralysed are the cases of Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele. They are injured so it’s hard to shift them on.