Barcelona sporting director Matteo Alemani stressed that the financial crisis that the Catalan club is going through at the present time prevents concluding any new deals in the next winter Mercato, despite acknowledging the team’s need to include new players.
Barcelona was unable to sign any players last summer except for free, but injuries hit the Blaugrana list recently and the club has a clear need for new players, especially with the arrival of Xavi Hernandez to the technical leadership at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona has already included Dani Alves for free, and the Brazilian international will almost not charge anything, and during his presentation conference, Alemani announced the situation in the winter Mercato.
Alemani told the media, “At the present moment, there is no possibility to sign any player in the winter transfer market, but we are working to change this situation.”
“He’ll see what we can do,” added the former Valencia manager.
At the end of his speech, Alemani was clear that the only solution to signing new players was to give up some of the current players on Barcelona’s list.
Barça director Alemany announces they’re NOT able to register signings in January if they won’t offload players: “Today, there is no possibility of signing in the winter market. But we’re working”.
“We will be able to register Xavi and by January we will see what can be done”. pic.twitter.com/qPY58m6xKe
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 17, 2021
Alemani did not name those who could be dispensed with, but of course the clearest reference to Philippe Coutinho and Samuel Umtiti, whose salaries represent a major crisis with no real sporting merit in staying at the Camp Nou.
Umtiti is on his way out with rumors that Benfica are interested in him, and Coutinho is likely to stay until next summer.