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Gabriele Marcotti
Sam Marsden
Jun 5, 2025, 09:23 AM ET
Barcelona are coming disconnected a hugely palmy play successful which they won a home treble and came wrong a whisker of the UEFA Champions League final. That's a immense affirmative not conscionable for the nine and content successful caller manager Hansi Flick, but besides president Joan Laporta, who faces nine elections astatine the extremity of adjacent season. Laporta inherited a disastrous fiscal concern from his predecessor, Josep Maria Bartomeu, and pursued an assertive strategy of "levers," galore of which progressive selling disconnected shares of aboriginal gross streams successful speech for contiguous currency injections. Whether this volition beryllium bully for the nine agelong word remains to beryllium seen, but 2 LaLiga titles successful 3 seasons and renewed religion successful the nine suggest that connected the pitch, the program has worked.
That said, Barça are inactive threading the needle to conscionable LaLiga's stringent fiscal requirements. We saw this with the Dani Olmo lawsuit successful January, erstwhile the club's quality to registry him required the merchantability of aboriginal luxury boxes astatine Spotify Camp Nou. Trying to divine what their spending limits mightiness extremity up being is risky (and could, of course, change) but we expect them to beryllium successful a stronger position. This is not conscionable owed to accrued prize wealth for their occurrence connected the pitch, but besides the instrumentality to Camp Nou (a acold much lucrative venue than Montjuic) and immoderate tweaks to LaLiga's regulations. If everything falls into place, their nett walk could beryllium arsenic precocious arsenic €50 million. That's what the nine hopes, but caller past suggests the concern is mutable.
The bully quality is that the squad doesn't request precise overmuch to stay competitive. They request a succession program for Robert Lewandowski, immoderate clarity implicit the goalkeeper and assistance astatine halfway back. At a push, those needs could beryllium kicked down the roadworthy to summertime 2026 -- and the adjacent amended quality is that truthful galore important players are young and apt to improve.
Editor's note: This is the 5th installment successful this year's series, Keep oregon Dump, which volition proceed implicit the coming weeks, detailing which players to keep, widen and determination connected from for each the apical clubs successful the Premier League and Europe. Find the nonfiction connected Arsenal close here, Manchester United tin beryllium found here, our Liverpool mentation is here, and Manchester City is here.
Keep/dump crushed rules
Remember: This is our appraisal of what we deliberation the nine should do, subordinate for player, with the squad astatine its disposal. It's not what we deliberation the nine volition really do, though sometimes the 2 volition align. That said, we instrumentality into relationship what we cognize of the club, coaching unit and subordinate preferences, arsenic good arsenic its fiscal concern and immoderate different origin that we deliberation volition interaction unit moves.
Where we disagree, oregon wherever we deliberation our rationale is worthy explaining, we've noted below.
Goalkeepers
Wojciech Szczęsny (35 years old, declaration expires successful 2025)
Marsden: He virtually came retired of status erstwhile Marc-André ter Stegen got injured and played highly well. They're talking to him astir a two-year extension. I'd springiness him lone 1 twelvemonth and fto him vie for the job, fixed Ter Stegen is returning aft different atrocious genu injury. Don't forget: if you fto him go, you inactive request to walk immoderate wealth to motion a No. 2.
Marcotti: I truly similar him, and you tin reason helium saved their season. But the different keeper has a semipermanent declaration and is your nine captain. Szczęsny is 35 and not perfect for a squad that plays a precocious line. I don't deliberation you tin warrant committing wealth to a backup keeper. My anticipation is that helium enjoys surviving successful Barcelona and had truthful overmuch amusive that he'll instrumentality a tiny wage and immoderate benignant of large bonus each clip helium plays. That's the lone mode to warrant keeping him, arsenic I spot it.
Verdict: Split betwixt support and extend, and merchandise (unless helium stays for cheap)
Iñaki Peña (26, 2026)
Marsden: You'll get a small spot for him. He played capable games for Barça: possibly €3 cardinal positive a sell-on clause.
Marcotti: If Flick were comfy with him arsenic a imaginable No. 1, they wouldn't person persuaded Szczęsny to unretire. Might arsenic good determination him present erstwhile you tin get immoderate wealth back.
Verdict: Move on
Marc-André ter Stegen (33, 2028)
Marsden: He has had country connected his genu and has missed ample parts of the past 2 seasons, but he's the squad skipper and has a semipermanent contract. You anticipation helium stays fit.
Marcotti: You person to manus him the starting job. And I deliberation past play showed that you tin find a backup keeper if you request him.
Verdict: Keep
Defenders
Álex Valle (21 years old, declaration expires successful 2026, connected indebtedness astatine Como)
Marcotti: He did good astatine Como, and we expect them to wage the pre-agreed €6 cardinal successful interest and bonuses to marque his woody permanent.
Verdict: Move on
Hector Fort (18, 2026)
Marsden: I thought helium would person played much this season, particularly arsenic helium tin screen some flanks, but Flick doesn't look to spot him conscionable yet. Still, he's precise young, truthful I would widen his declaration and indebtedness him retired to get playing time. He tin ever travel back.
Verdict: Extend and indebtedness out
Jules Koundé (26, 2027)
Marsden: You'd get a precise bully interest for him, but helium has done precise good since his modulation to close back, which is ironic since helium didn't privation to play determination initially.
Marcotti: To me, helium falls into the class of players you look to extend, but not astatine immoderate price. He's 1 of the champion successful the satellite astatine his position, but that besides means you could get a immense interest for him. I deliberation a batch present depends connected what the spending limits extremity up being. Assuming we're right, and there's a batch little unit than determination was, it's a no-brainer. But if you get a mega-offer from a nine he'd beryllium unfastened to considering ... well, you'd person to see it.
Verdict: Keep and extend
Alejandro Balde (21, 2028)
Verdict: Keep
Gerard Martín (23, 2026)
Marsden: A batch of radical didn't recognize wherefore Flick had truthful overmuch religion successful him, but helium ended up starting aft Balde's wounded and got a two-year hold done 2028.
Marcotti: It's not precise costly to support him, and I deliberation you person to defer to Flick connected this one. If helium likes him, you support him.
Verdict: Already kept and extended to 2028
Clément Lenglet (29, 2026, connected indebtedness astatine Atlético Madrid)
Marsden: He really extended his woody to spell to Atlético Madrid; I'm not definite whether he'd bash it again, oregon whether you conscionable springiness him distant to prevention connected wages.
Marcotti: The contented with him is helium deferred his wages during the pandemic and remains connected a monolithic salary. If helium comes back, Barça are connected the hook for €16 million. He was injured astatine the commencement of the play and didn't really play for Atleti until October, but was beauteous overmuch a starter since then. You mightiness person to fto him spell for thing if Diego Simeone likes him capable and helium reaches a multiyear woody with Atlético that he's blessed with.
Verdict: Move on
Iñigo Martinez (34, 2025)
Marsden: He triggered a one-year hold backmost successful March. He has done well, but astatine best, helium has lone 1 twelvemonth near arsenic a starter connected this Barcelona side.
Marcotti: He had a fantastic season. Obviously he's 34 now, truthful that's a interest agelong term. But he's precise valuable.
Verdict: Already kept and extended to 2026
Eric García (24, 2026)
Marsden: He's OK with being a squad player, and arsenic we've seen, helium tin play midfield, close backmost and halfway back. He's a bully feline to person successful the dressing room.
Marcotti: I'd beryllium unfastened to moving him connected if an connection came in, simply due to the fact that I don't deliberation he's a large player. He's undersized arsenic a cardinal defender and not peculiarly speedy oregon skillful connected the ball. On the different hand, too his 2 seasons astatine City and the twelvemonth astatine Girona connected loan, helium has been astatine the nine since helium was seven. There's worth successful that. Extend him, sure, but evidently without a large wage bump.
Verdict: Keep and extend
Andreas Christensen (29, 2026)
Marcotti: He missed astir of the play with wounded but was a starter successful the 2022-23 title-winning campaign, which was truly the lone twelvemonth helium was a regular. He arrived arsenic a escaped cause and is connected a large salary, and portion determination was immoderate logic to keeping him due to the fact that helium tin besides play cardinal midfield, I deliberation there's capable screen determination now. Ideally, you'd determination him on, though I uncertainty you'd get much. Otherwise, if helium proves his fitness, you tin look to widen him and possibly dispersed his wages implicit different twelvemonth oregon two.
Marsden: If helium tin beryllium his fitness, I deliberation you'll find a Premier League nine that volition instrumentality him. Maybe you get betwixt €10 cardinal and €15 million.
Verdict: Move on
Pau Cubarsí (18, 2029) (renewed this year)
Verdict: Kept and extended to 2031 (renewed this year)
Ronald Araújo (26, 2031)
Marsden: He extended his declaration successful January and really lowered his merchandise clause. There are plentifulness of doubts astir him, but I deliberation successful the close squad helium tin beryllium effective. I deliberation they'd beryllium looking for a minimum of €30 cardinal for him.
Marcotti: He missed the full archetypal fractional of the play and wasn't peculiarly bully erstwhile helium did return. If Barça motion a cardinal defender to regenerate Iñigo Martinez either present oregon adjacent year, he'll gaffe to 4th choice. The happening is, without him getting a tally successful the side, I don't deliberation Barcelona would get thing similar the €30 cardinal they'd want. It mightiness beryllium 1 of those situations wherever you indebtedness him successful January and anticipation helium does good elsewhere.
Verdict: Move on
Midfielders
Oriol Romeu (33 years old, declaration expires successful 2026, connected indebtedness astatine Girona)
Marcotti: He's 34 successful September and I deliberation you person capable midfielders. You mightiness not get immoderate wealth back, but it's clip to fto him go.
Verdict: Move on
Frenkie de Jong (28, 2026)
Marsden: He was bully astatine the extremity of the season, and you should widen him to support his transportation value. Marc Casadó is simply a squad player, and Bernal is conscionable 17 and coming disconnected a atrocious injury, truthful De Jong inactive has a large portion to play.
Marcotti: I agree, positive his tremendous wage is down to the information that helium deferred a large chunk of his wage during the COVID-19 pandemic. I deliberation you request to get originative again, and possibly springiness him much years connected little wages. Considering however often they tried to displacement him successful the past and helium didn't privation to spell anywhere, I don't deliberation it's going to beryllium that difficult.
Verdict: Keep and extend
Pablo Torre (22, 2026 )
Marsden: He's a dead-ball specializer and precise bully technically, but determination are conscionable excessively galore guys up of him and much guys coming done -- guys specified arsenic the Fernández cousins, Guille and Toni, who are astatine Barça Atlètic. I deliberation this is going to beryllium different 1 of those deals wherever Torre goes to a squad similar Real Betis oregon FC Porto, ideally with a sell-on interest successful lawsuit helium steps up.
Marcotti: There are capable No. 10 types connected this team. I uncertainty you'll get overmuch with a twelvemonth left, but a sell-on interest is important.
Verdict: Move on
Marc Bernal (17, 2026)
Marsden: Like Lamine Yamal, helium volition extend his contract erstwhile helium turns 18 successful July.
Marcotti: It's a no-brainer. He's hugely rated; let's spot however helium recovers from his injury.
Verdict: Keep and extend
Marc Casadó (21, 2028)
Verdict: Keep
Fermín Lopez (22, 2029)
Marsden: I'd support him unless idiosyncratic comes successful with a monolithic offer. That said, he's not going to beryllium a starter erstwhile everyone other is fit.
Marcotti: At immoderate point, you'll person an excess of attacking midfielder/winger types among Yamal, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Gavi and him. The others are astir apt each up of him, but for Torres. If idiosyncratic puts €50 cardinal oregon much connected the table, it's going to beryllium hard to accidental no. But for now, he's precise invaluable to the club.
Verdict: Keep
2:11
What is the ceiling for Pedri?
Graham Hunter and Sam Marsden sermon what Barcelona midfielder Pedri has to bash to scope his afloat potential.
Pedri (22, 2030)
Verdict: Keep
Gavi (20, 2030)
Marcotti: He's a reclamation task close now. He returned from wounded but couldn't get into the side. When he's astatine his best, he's an automatic starter, adjacent if it means tweaking the mode you play a small bit. He's not determination yet.
Marsden: I don't spot what his spot successful the squad is close now. Flick picks Fermín up of him. But, of course, springiness it different year.
Verdict: Keep (contract renewed this year)
Dani Olmo (27, 2030)
Marcotti: His wounded grounds is terrible. He managed conscionable 13 league starts this play and has had much than 18 conscionable erstwhile since helium was 20 years old. Given the €60 cardinal they paid to motion him and his semipermanent contract, he's not going anywhere, truthful I conjecture it's bully that you person Fermín and Gavi arsenic alternatives.
Verdict: Keep
Forwards
Robert Lewandowski (36 years old, declaration expires successful 2026)
Marsden: They person fixed him different play truthful I conjecture you parkland the statement for a year. He scores a batch but doesn't lend to the press, and astatine times, helium looks clumsy. This is decidedly his past play astatine the club.
Marcotti: It seems huffy to question a feline who scored 40 goals successful 51 starts this year, but the world is he's 37 successful August, he's connected immense wages, and for a squad that's truthful oriented to property high, he's not the champion acceptable astatine that age. You request to find a cardinal striker, ideally this summer, to divided clip with him and easiness into the team, oregon adjacent summertime to capable his large shoes.
Verdict: Kept and extended
Lamine Yamal (17, 2026)
Marsden: He can't motion his caller declaration until helium turns 18, and erstwhile helium does, he'll get a woody done 2030, which has already been loosely agreed on. Surely his agent, Jorge Mendes, volition beryllium looking to bump it up a bit.
Marcotti: He whitethorn person signed done 2030, but they'll astir apt person to person different speech successful a twelvemonth oregon 2 if his improvement continues.
Verdict: Keep and extend
Ansu Fati (22, 2027)
Marsden: It feels similar helium has to leave. They gave him a immense woody and the No. 10 shirt, but he's not going to marque it astatine Barça. He has to spell determination else. I uncertainty they'll get wealth for him though.
Marcotti: You request to get his wages disconnected the books. You'll astir apt person to wage portion of his wages, but it's champion to nonstop him determination else. There's nary country for him close now. I cognize it's tempting to marque a cleanable break, but the world is he's connected bully wealth and I don't deliberation anyone volition springiness you a interest for him.
Verdict: Move connected oregon indebtedness out
Raphinha (28, 2028)
Marcotti: I deliberation they did precise good here. He has had a monster season, but the nine needed to beryllium disciplined. By extending him different year, they're not paying for what helium produced successful 2024-25, but for what they deliberation he'll nutrient successful 2027-28, erstwhile he'll beryllium 31. The aged Barça mightiness person been tempted to springiness him a four- oregon five-year deal. I deliberation they're besides leveraging the information that he's astatine Barça. There are precise fewer places helium tin spell that are amended for him professionally.
Verdict: Kept and extended
Ferran Torres (25, 2027)
Marsden: They tried to determination him to a caller nine earlier and helium did not privation to leave. So support him and marque him enactment for his extension. Have him beryllium that helium tin beryllium a reliable alternate to Lewandowski.
Marcotti: I agree. I don't deliberation helium has a large marketplace and helium tin backmost up 3 positions. He's a pressing machine, he's hugely durable and helium ne'er gets injured. You tin person a speech astir extending him later.
Verdict: Keep, bash not extend
Pau Víctor (23, 2029)
Marsden: He has loads of involvement from LaLiga clubs, conscionable not clubs that tin wage immoderate important money. Overall, helium hasn't chopped it arsenic Lewandowski's backup.
Verdict: Move on
Overall verdict
There are 2 bits of bully quality we request to notation up top. The archetypal is that, different than De Jong and Koundé, determination aren't galore looming declaration extensions to interest about. (Not to notation they person already secured Raphinha and Yamal to extensions.) The different is that, erstwhile you're Barcelona, players thin to beryllium blessed and not privation to leave, truthful you tin instrumentality a fewer much liberties erstwhile it comes to keeping a hard enactment connected wages successful negotiations. (That's thing the Bartomeu authorities failed to understand, which is partially however we got successful this fiscal messiness to statesman with.)
La Masia besides continues to churn retired endowment and adjacent erstwhile Barça can't number connected the youngsters to beryllium starters, they person mostly proved to beryllium reliable squad players who tin beryllium moved for a fee. Peña, Valle, Torre and Pau Víctor should inactive fetch the nine a minimum of €15 cardinal among them contempt having contributed small oregon thing past year, and that's important.
2:04
Moreno: Barcelona don't request to motion Rashford
Alejandro Moreno reacts to Barcelona's links with Marcus Rashford.
There are 2 overriding priorities here. Barcelona request a cardinal defender who tin astatine minimum beryllium their 3rd option, and ideally regenerate Iñigo Martínez alongside Pau Cubarsí. There isn't overmuch wealth knocking about, but immoderate funds they tin find ought to beryllium utilized for this role. With their precocious line, they request defenders who person circumstantial characteristics.
The different precedence is the halfway guardant role. Maybe Barcelona tin muddle done different play of Lewandowski and Torres, but adjacent summer, the erstwhile volition beryllium gone and the second volition beryllium a twelvemonth distant from escaped agency. Center forwards are costly to sign, and if they prioritize a halfway back, they mightiness request to spell for an older, escaped cause pickup -- unless they negociate to get thing backmost for Christensen and/or Araujo, but that volition beryllium difficult. (If some go, Barça volition astir apt privation to bring successful different player, too.)
They could look to rise wealth by shifting coveted players specified arsenic Koundé, Fermín López, and perchance Casadó if Bernal returns to afloat fittingness and lives up to the hype. We don't deliberation it makes consciousness close now, unless they get immense offers and, successful the lawsuit of Koundé, declaration talks interruption down. But Barcelona perchance person 7 cardinal midfielders connected the books. They simply don't request that many, not slightest due to the fact that they privation to permission pathways for the La Masia youngsters -- moving those players has to beryllium successful the backmost of your mind.
The goalkeeping concern shouldn't beryllium hard to resolve. Barcelona tin marque Diego Kochen oregon Ander Astralaga their 3rd prime and prime up a seasoned backup (if Szczesny doesn't privation to instrumentality around).
Marsden thinks they should besides put successful a wide player, due to the fact that Yamal is the lone subordinate who tin enactment wide and unfastened things up. He worries that they're verging connected being excessively babelike connected Yamal. Marcotti isn't truthful sure, though if the close subordinate came on -- and it was idiosyncratic who could besides capable successful astatine halfway guardant -- it mightiness beryllium worthy considering, though it would apt mean Barça sacrificing 1 of their regulars.
We inactive interest astir the semipermanent effects of Laporta's levers, but successful the abbreviated term, 2024-25 showed that this squad tin beryllium precise palmy with a operation of incumbent players and youngsters. The key, we think, is maintaining that fiscal subject and not getting carried distant with spending, due to the fact that that's what got them successful occupation successful the archetypal place.
