Barcelona's 'Operation Exit' to start with three big departures

Robin Bairner

• 28 Oct 2022 13:14 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona are braced to lose three players, including two icons, during the January transfer window as they seek to turn their fortunes around.

The Camp Nou side were dumped out of the Champions League with a round of games to spare, exiting the competition for a second successive season at the group stage. In their five matches, they have only beaten minnows Vikoria Plzen.

This comes at a challenging period for the club. President Joan Laporta gambled on a strong performance in Europe after a summer of big spending on stars such as Raphinha, Jules Kounde and Robert Lewandowski.

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The economic situation at the club was already grave. In order to finance these deals, long-term assets were auctioned off and the money pumped back into the club rather than alleviating the enormous debts that Barca presently face.

To have another hole blown in the budget by the early European exit is a grave blow indeed.

Barcelona are set to respond to this by offloading the deadwood in their squad. This will mean that veteran players, who are comparatively high earners even after falling into line with a new pay structure, are liable to be the first to go.

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Barcelona planning for seven exits

Sport reports that Barcelona are presently working out how to offload Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Memphis Depay during the January transfer window. Of this trio, central defender Pique promises to be the hardest to move on.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Frenkie de Jong’s future remains up for debate. Although he has been playing regularly, Barcelona would consider a big sale if it allowed reinvestment in the squad.

Sergio Busquets’ departure for the club, meanwhile, is scheduled for the end of his contract in June.

Finally, Barcelona want Pablo Torre to be playing regular football and the youngster is expected to be loaned elsewhere in La Liga, with goalkeeper Inaki Pena another player who could leave the club on a temporary basis.