Barcelona made the signings of Frank Kessié and Andreas Christensen official on Monday, the same day that Xavi’s team started training with the surprise appearance of Riqui Puig and Neto. The coach had exempted both players, as well as Umtiti and Mingueza, from having to appear for the pre-season medical tests while urging them to find a team away from the Camp Nou.
Xavi wants to lighten the squad and last May he already communicated to the footballers he does not have that they will look for a team and they will be released for the start of the 2021-2022 academic year. Also on the casualty list are Wague and Lenglet, who is negotiating his transfer to Tottenham, as well as Braithwaite, who in any case has permission until 11 after having played in the League of Nations with Denmark.
Those summoned this Monday were Ter Stegen, Peña, Dest, Piqué, Nico, Aubameyang, Pedri, Sergi Roberto, Balde, Pjanic, Collado, Raj Manaj, Trincão, Abde, Pablo Torre and Kessié. On the 11th it will be the turn of Eric García, Alba, Busquets, Gavi, Ferran Torres, Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay, Araujo and Christensen. Although Ansu Fati was in this group, the striker brought forward his incorporation and is already training at the Barça sports city.
Alves, Luuk de Jong and Adama have already left, it does not seem that those who have returned from their assignments will continue -Pjanic, Collado, Manaj and Trincão-, there are doubts about the future of Frenkie de Jong and they are still waiting both Dembélé’s response and Gavi’s renewal. The club, meanwhile, is still interested in the signings of Lewandowsi, Koundé, Raphinha, Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso.
The intention of the directive is to allocate some 200 million for signings after the sale of 25% of the television rights to Sixth Street – 10% is already official for a value of 207.5 million and the remaining 15% could be negotiated soon with the same investment fund. “If I win titles and bring joy back to the fans, I will go around the world”, said President Laporta. “I want to be three-calm again and achieve a sextet”.
Kessié and Chirstensen, who will be presented this Wednesday and Thursday respectively, will sign a contract until 2026 and their termination clause will be 500 million.
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