Barcelona have to pay Arsenal €3.8m if they win the Champions League
Thomas Vermaelen sat in the stands of the Allianz Arena to watch Barcelona reach the Champions League final. The Belgian centre-back has not played for the club in an official game since signing from Arsenal last summer, but Luis Enrique took all his squad to Bavaria for the semi-final second leg clash with Bayern Munich.
Barcelona lost, but won 5-3 on aggregate and will now contest the final in Berlin on June 6, against either Real Madrid or Juventus. If they win, they will lift the Champions League for the fifth time, but there will be a hidden cost.
In the deal that took Vermaelen to the Camp Nou from The Gunners, there was a clause that said if Barcelona won the Champions League, they would have to pay Arsenal €3.8 million.
Vermaelen's transfer cost Barcelona €10m, with an additional €5m in performance related bonuses - and the extra €3.8m for winning the European Cup.
Despite this extra fee that Barcelona may have to pay, victory in Berlin will be sweet. Extra sweet if it is against arch-rivals Real Madrid.
