Barcelona to cash in on Grimaldo but Benfica are the real winners

Benfica are close to selling Alejandro Grimaldo to Napoli for 30 million euros. Barcelona sold the left-back to the Portuguese side for 1.5 million, but reserved their right to a percentage of any future sale plus their rights for the player's development years. 

Good business or disaster prevention? There will be opinions on both sides. Grimaldo's transfer to Benfica in December of 2015 will bring in some 'extra' cash for the Catalan club now, but it won't be comparable to how much the Lisbon-based side will rake in. 

Benfica paid 2.1 million for Grimaldo in total, although only 1.5 million went to Barça, who have a 10-15 percent sell-on on any future sale.  

That future sale could happen soon. Napoli are close to signing Grimaldo for 30 million and will give him a five-year deal worth two million annually. The full-back will sign now -- Napoli representatives are in Lisbon -- but will join the Serie A side in the summer. 

Barcelona will receive at least three million for a player that did not get a chance in the first team, despite being a regular in Gerard Lopez's B team. On top of that amoung, they will also get a lump sum for the player's development years, given he joined the club when he was 13. 

That could take the amount to above four million (plus the initial 1.5 million).... but the good business has not been done by Barça, but by Benfica.