FC Barcelona Readying ‘Painful’ Sacrifice Sale Of Huge First Team Star

FC Barcelona are preparing to sacrifice one of their biggest first team stars this summer if necessary, because of the difficulties being encountered in offloading those who are surplus to requirements according to El Nacional.

Barca need to make at least three player sales so that they can bring in fresh faces ahead of the 2023/2024 season and return to the 1:1 rule within Financial Fair Play limits.

Three names straight off the bat that they would like to move on are Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres and Franck Kessie.

As each of them men have long term-contracts, however, they are under no obligation to switch allegiances. Furthermore, Premier
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League clubs aren’t willing to pay a premium for La Masia graduate Fati, and SPORT reported on Saturday how Kessie will continue in Blaugrana if interested parties don’t stump up at least €35 million ($38.2 million) for his services.

Plan B would be putting Frenkie de Jong back on the market. The Dutchman was Barca’s most sellable asset last summer, with Barca accepting an €85 million ($92 million) offer for him from Manchester United according to The Athletic.

De Jong refused to up sticks, citing a desire to succeed under Xavi Hernandez and play Champions League football that the Mancunians couldn’t offer as his primary motivations for staying put.

Since then, he has become an ‘untouchable’ at the club key to their first La Liga title win in four years. Yet United’s maintained interest and Barca’s precarious predicament might push president Joan Laporta and Co. to review his status in the squad.

Plan C, according to El Nacional, is allowing Ousmane Dembele to leave. The Frenchman indicated to MARCA on Saturday that he is willing to renew his contract until 2027.

This summer, however, his release clause can be activated for a paltry €50 million ($55 million) putting a number of European heavyweights such as Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain on alert.

One thing is for certain. If Barca are to bring in the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Inigo Martiez and Vitor Roque, someone has to head out the Camp Nou – or rather Montjuic Stadium – exit door in the coming weeks.