Barcelona needs sales to make him sign – it's a line that has been repeated ad nauseam by the local and international press this summer, with the only statement to the contrary coming from president Joan Laporta. However, the assets that allow them to make these signings are not exactly willing to make Barcelona's offer at this point.
The first example is perhaps Raphinha. The Brazilian was brought in for more than 60 million euros from Leeds United two summers ago, but at any time he has not been a guaranteed starter for more than a month or two, competing with injuries, Ousmane Dembele, and then Lamine Yamal.
With Barcelona looking to bring in one of Nico Williams or Dani Olmo this summer, who will more or less rule Raphinha from a starting spot, but Brand say that the 27-year-old is not even responding to the offers that have arrived at his door from Saudi Arabia and the Premier League. He continues to work hard in training, and has shown no desire to quit.
If Nico doesn't join, Barcelona will look for another left-back in addition to Dani Olmo. @JoanPoquiEraso
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 30, 2024
If Olmo or Williams come in, they will be the third major signing in the wide forward positions in the three seasons Laporta has been back in charge, after Ferran Torres and Raphinha. Both have three years left on their deals, and little intention of leaving any time soon.
Meanwhile, Vitor Roque is another recent signing who found his name on the summer cut. The 19-year-old arrived in January for €30 million, and even after just 353 minutes, he has seen himself go from future number nine to persona non grata. Barcelona would have wanted to sell him too, but Roque is also within his rights to indicate the remaining seven years of his deal.
In the end, Barcelona loses confidence. All three players were given a supposed project, a path to stardom, and asked to make financial sacrifices to get to the club. However, a season, if not less, later, it was seen that either those plans were disingenuous, or Barcelona cannot be trusted to keep their word – the result is the same.
Raphinha has not responded to any of the offers that have arrived at his door, from the Premier League or Saudi Arabia. (Brand) #FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/vROvdN7Sox
— Football España (@footballespana_) July 30, 2024
Barcelona will not run out of time for their brand and image, but no matter how much they shout about the identity from Parc Guell or from La Sagrera, the echo of their actions will continue to drown out their cries. Naturally, the sun, sand, wages and prestige will always give Barcelona a gravitational pull that most clubs can only dream of.
However, if they continue to sell dreams just to try to profit from their footballers, they will increasingly find it more difficult to convince the players that their offer has other advantages beyond the more lucrative offers elsewhere. When the time comes Barcelona we need to have an honest conversation about the future of a star, the chance of his players responding in good faith seems slimmer every season. Barcelona writes a collection of cautious stories about the signing of an agreement with Laporta – soon the body of evidence will be difficult to ignore, despite the romance of signing for them.
