Does Jorge Mendes hold the key to Barcelona summer transfer window?
Karan Tejwani
- 9 Jun 2022 09:40 BST
- 4 min read
Jorge Mendes was in Barcelona this week and was in a meeting with officials from the club to discuss their summer transfer plans and make the most of the window.
The super-agent met with club President Joan Laporta along with Technical Director Jordi Cruyff, Director of Football Mateu Alemany and Vice President Rafael Yuste.
Mendes has worked closely with Barcelona since the return of Laporta as President, advising the club on transfers and acting as an intermediary on several deals.
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This year, his role will ideally be to get the best possible deals and get players out of Camp Nou – many of whom are represented by Mendes.
What did Mendes discuss in the meeting with Barcelona?
One of the primary talking points, according to the Spanish press, was the future of Franciso Trincao, the forward they signed back in 2020 under previous Laporta’s predecessor, Josep Bartomeu.
Trincao has spent the past season on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the English club aren’t keen on making the deal permanent, and Mendes has offered the player to other clubs.
It is reported that Sporting are one of the clubs interested in taking the winger, and that would be welcome at Barcelona who are eager to see the player go.
Another topic of discussion was Clement Lenglet, who has struggled for form in this Barcelona team for a few years and who the club would like to sell.
Mendes has worked as an intermediary in this deal and like Tricao, has offered Lenglet to a Portuguese side, this time in the form of league champions Porto.
There were reportedly discussion over other Mendes clients at Barcelona, and it was reported that the possibility of youngster Nico’s departure was also discussed.
Nico makes it 3-2 to Barcelona! 🔵🔴
Brilliant assist from Gavi 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7s5Ly2xgjf— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) December 18, 2021
The 20-year-old had a breakthrough campaign this season and has a contract until 2024, but there has been interest in the player from foreign clubs.
Mendes, however, said the club don’t want to sell him: “They [Barcelona] don’t want to sell Nico, even though there are proposals.”
Other than him, Barcelona see other La Masia graduates as untouchable including Ansu Fati and Alejandro Balde and were looking to keep them at the club for the foreseeable future.
In terms of incomings, there were talks over a trio of Portuguese players: Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, Wolves’ Ruben Neves and Valencia’s Goncalo Guedes.
Barcelona are interested in Silva, but only if Frenkie de Jong has to leave the club, while the other two seem to be unfeasible at the minute.
Additionally, according to reports, the future of Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix was discussed, but this would be difficult as he would cost too much and the capital club are keen on keeping the player, despite Laporta’s keenness.
Bernardo Silva wants to leave Manchester City for personal reasons, and would love the idea of playing for Barcelona. If Frenkie is sold, Silva would become a priority for Barça. [md] pic.twitter.com/Iuis9NqSRD
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) June 9, 2022
By the end, Mendes was positive about how the meeting went: “We have talked about several players. The meeting went well,” he said after the gathering.
The super-agent is going to have another busy transfer window, and Barcelona will be a club that he will be heavily involved with.
Xavi's side had a positive end to the season, but could be hampered by the club's serious financial issues, which would raise the question of whether Mendes holds the key to a successful summer and long-term future.
