Martin Braithwaite is resisting leaving the Barça brand

La Liga finished on May 22nd. As Xavi explained in his press conferences, he waited until then to speak with the players that he didn't count on for the following season. It's been two months since then. Neto, Riqui Puig, Mingueza, Lenglet, Umtiti and Braithwaite. Only one of these has departed, with the rest still at the club. The Dane is trying to convince the coach he still has something to give - he isn’t planning on leaving.

Even he's played just 24 minutes since Xavi arrived the Danish striker still believes he can turn the situation around. But nothing could be further from the truth. After a week and a half of preseason the coach left him out of the tour of the United States. A direct and clear message, a tough blow. Xavi is not even giving him the chance to do turn it around. After the announcement of Robert Lewandowski’s signing it's clear there is an overbooking in attack and Martin Braithwaite is the one who has to go first. 

The Dane has to choose. Stay in Barcelona, knowing that only a miracle would earn him a place in the squad for next season or accept one of the office he has on the table. Including the latest from Ajax, a destination that is without doubt attractive, and would let him play in the Champions League. The problem? The player likes being part of the Barça brand.

Beyond football, he’s an impressive entrepreneur. Along with his uncle, he owns real estate worth 250 million dollars, and along with Lionel Messi in the Forbes list is one of the footballing businessmen with the most success. He owns 1,500 properties and has 500 under construction, per BT. 

Will he prioritise business over football? If he wants to go to the Qatar World Cup, probably his last chance to play on that level, he knows he has to go. The Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand made that clear. 

At the same time, if he leaves Barcelona, it could hurt him in a business sense. Living in Spain and playing in La Liga no doubt suits him. Maybe he’s waiting for the club to activate another lever and axe him, paying him economic compensation for the years left on his deal.