Monday 30 / December / 2024
Madrid: In the end, Kylian Mbappe stayed at Paris Saint-Germain as Real Madrid failed to push through a deal though for the French international striker, and so rather than Real Madrid being the focus of attention of deadline day in the transfer window, that dubious honor fell on FC Barcelona.
However, rather than the arrival of new faces at Barca, it is the departures that are the eye-openers, with Antoine Griezmann returning to Atletico Madrid two years after moving from Atletico to the Camp Nou.
The desire of Atletico coach Diego Simeone to have Griezmann back in his ranks is thought to be the main factor behind a move which sees the Frenchman return to loan for one year, with a second year optional and an obligatory purchase clause.
In short, Barcelona have offloaded another of the biggest wage earners from their squad in an attempt to improve their dire financial situation, with debts of around 1,300 million euros.
Griezmann was able to return to Atletico after the La Liga champions freed up a place in their squad and lowered their wage ceiling after midfielder Saul Niguez joined Chelsea on a season-long loan, with the English side having the option to make the deal permanent next summer.
Griezmann was not the only departure from Barcelona on Tuesday as right-back Emerson Royal joined Tottenham in a move worth 25 million euros. Emerson leaves just 29 days after Barca president Joan Laporta said he hoped the Brazilian would be at the club for a long time.
Once again, it looks as if the chance to lower the wage bill and make a quick profit on the defender Barca paid Real Betis nine million euros for was too good an opportunity to miss for Laporta.
The final departure from Barcelona on Tuesday was 18-year-old midfielder Ilaix Moriba, who has joined RB Leipzig for around 20 million euros after failing to agree a new contract.
Ilaix promised big things after breaking into the Barca first team at the end of last season, but his refusal to sign a new contract left Barca with few options other than cashing in on a player who looked set to be a fixture in their team for the next decade.
Griezmann's departure, along with that of Lionel Messi, leaves a hole in the Barca attack which has been filled by the signing of 31-year-old Luuk de Jong on a season-long loan from Sevilla, while youngsters Oscar Mingueza and Yusuf Demir have both been given places in Barca's first team squad.
De Jong joins Barca after netting 10 goals in 69 league appearances for Sevilla, and although Ronald Koeman has worked with him in the Dutch international team, the arrival of the big striker may not set Barca supporters' hearts racing.
