Economy or project

Will we have to sell Ronald Araújo, Pedri or Ansu Fati to save the club from economic ruin? One of the questions that the candidates for the Barça presidency have received the most, and also the advisers who lead their economic projects in the pre-campaign, it has to do with the relationship between the delicate financial situation of the club and the money that, in case of need, the Barça club could receive with amortized players such as Ansu, Araújo or Pedri.

Economic survival or project. There can be the great debate in Barça that comes from next March 7. Especially with three players on which, in addition to Ter Stegen and De Jong, Barça's future project must be supported. The market value of Araújo, Pedri and Ansu has exploded in recent months. The Uruguayan, according to the specialized website transfermarkt, was worth 4.50 million euros in April 2020, and now it goes for 21 million. The next thing will be a new high after a spectacular January. Pedri has increased its value sevenfold in just over a year and has gone from 15 million to 50. Ansu Fati's value stood at 80 million and was skyrocketing before his injury on November 7 against Betis.

Barça rejected last August a firm offer from Manchester United for Ansu Fati; and Bayern wanted to steal Pedri from the Catalans also last summer, taking advantage of the post-Lisbon storm and that the club was not sure whether to give him up or that he was a subsidiary player. As soon as he saw it, Koeman said he was still on. By Ronald Araújo there is no record of official proposals, but they will arrive. He has a contract until 2023. Pedri has signed until 2022, but his emoluments must be reviewed. Ansu's case may be the most troublesome. The Bissau player has a clause of 400 million euros from the moment he joined the first team, but his contract ends in 2022 and Barça will also have to face its expansion and improvement.

For now, Laporta, Font and Freixa, the three candidates for the presidency, have made it clear that the sports project will rule the economy; and that in no case can the club be undercapitalized because what Barça needs are sports results that allow it to recover past income. The famous virtuous circle. Another thing is the reality that they are upon arrival and the decisions they make. Of course, and from a distance, the three seem like the future of Barça.