Broker Barca: A new way of doing business in the transfer market
Instead of buying huge superstars the club have changed their way of making signings
SPORT revealed that Barcelona have set their sights on Lucas Paqueta, the Brazilian midfielder, 21, at Flamengo. Although the operation is still young, Barca’s interest shows a new outlook from the club when it comes to the market.
Neymar was the first of a series of players from South America who they signed young. The impossibility of keeping on signing huge players is a key factor in the change in strategy. Yes, they recently signed Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele for 250 million euros, but that was financed by the sale of Neymar, for 220m euros.
At the end of 2011 the club beat Madrid to Ney, who arrived in 2013. It was an investment in the future. Ignoring the off-field issues, it went well. He was key in the Lucho era, before eventually moving to PSG.
Marlon, Yerry Mina and Artur are further attempts at this method. Marlon cost 5m and Sassuolo bought him for 6. Mina 12, and Everton purchased him for 30.
Less successful were Vitinho and Robert Goncalves. The Blaugrana loaned them with an option to buy, but did not as they did not progress as planned.
Arthur’s case is different. He was signed to fill a real sporting need - and yet, after paying 30m for him, he is now worth 35.
Both Barca and Madrid are making less big signings. They each spent 40 on Malcom and Courtois respectively, who were their biggest deals this summer. Cash flow problems forces the clubs to bet on youngsters before their ‘boom’.
Broker Barca and broker Madrid is a reality, with the list of Arthurs, Viniciuses, Yerrys and Paquetas only just beginning.
