Joan Laporta has warned Europe’s top clubs that four FC Barcelona players will be deemed ‘not for sale’.
The Blaugrana are struggling financially and need to raise at least €26m before they can sign any new players in order to comply with the league’s new financial rules. That has led to reports that other clubs may be targeting some of their players.
Speaking to Cadena SER, Joan Laporta stressed that Barcelona won’t face any problems in the transfer market and named four players he considers not for sale: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Frenkie de Jong, Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati.
“Ter Stegen and de Jong? We are very happy with both. Both are not for sale. Frenkie has a high value, several clubs are interested in him but he is not for sale,” affirmed the president.
“Dembele is not for sale either. At the right time we will seek his contract extension, he is one of the most important players in the team. He is one of the cornerstones. Whenever he plays, he creates space,” Laporta praised the Frenchman, who was in front of exactly had been up for sale for a year and had meanwhile been thrown out of the squad.
Asked about Fati, Laporta stressed that the winger is not for sale as part of a general warning that no FC Barcelona players are available on the transfer market.
“There is no first-team player for sale,” Laporta explained. “Neither Ansu Fati nor anyone else.”
Manchester United continue to be linked with De Jong while Paris Saint-Germain dominate the headlines in relation to Dembele. But Laporta stressed that Barcelona don’t need to sell players to make money.
“In order to apply the 1-1 rule, we would have to take in €26m at the moment. That’s the amount that was attributed to us as a loss after being eliminated from the Champions League,” he said.
“If we reach the final of the Europa League, for example, we would receive 21 million euros. If we count the friendlies, for example, we would already have the money. We have regained our prestige and there are investors, sponsors and clubs who say hosting Barca games. We will have the opportunity to sign with the 1-1 rule until June,” Laporta said optimistically.
This article was originally published on 90min.com as Joan Laporta names four FC Barcelona players who are ‘not for sale’.
