Report: Barcelona Will Not Exercise €16 Million Buy Option For Atletico Madrid Winger
Barcelona’s transfer season so far is far from how the board pictured it to be. The idea was to bid farewell to the underperforming stars and utilise the incoming funds to strengthen areas of need. However, a part of that objective has been exceedingly difficult to fulfil.
The Catalans have signed Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City and are even close to announcing the acquisition of Inigo Martinez. However, their inability to finalise departures has handicapped them.
It now appears that they will be forced to drop some targets that interested them. According to reports from SPORT, Barcelona are now considering letting the chance to sign Yannick Carrasco pass.
The Catalans secured an option to sign the Belgian winger for just €16 million this summer as part of the deal that saw Memphis Depay move to the Civitas Metropolitano in January.
It appeared to be a no-brainer that they would activate the clause come June, but the chances are now bleak given their failure to generate revenue.
The window to trigger Carrasco’s move for the aforementioned fee expired on Friday, and less than 24 hours remain now for the deadline.
Given that Joan Laporta is already running from pillar to post looking for a means to sign Marcelo Brozovic, Carrasco’s name is certainly off the table.
Barcelona’s focus, needless to say, is now on player sales. Franck Kessie is close to leaving, but the same cannot be said about Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres, both of whom refuse to budge. In such a situation, the Catalans could be forced to shut down talks with potential targets.
Carrasco made 35 appearances for Los Rojiblancos in La Liga last season, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in the process. His arrival could have been a boost, and it is a pity that Barcelona’s circumstances leave them with no leverage.
