- 15 hours ago
Barcelona Transfer News Today: Araujo blow puts €100m deal ‘ON HOLD’, Raphinha is ‘MISSION IMPOSSIBLE’
Robin Bairner
- 8 Jul 2024 08:19 BST
- 4 min read
Barcelona are hoping to complete a big summer transfer window, with Athletic Club winger Nico Williams their major target, but in order to sign the Spain Euro 2024 star, they need to make major sales.
Ronald Araujo injury stalls massive transfer
Injuries are hampering these hopes, with Ronald Araujo the latest player to suffer a major blow. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Uruguay centre-back could miss two months after sustaining a muscular problem against Brazil in the Copa America, taking him off the transfer market and blowing a €100 million hole in the budget of the Camp Nou side.
Barcelona’s hopes of a big summer transfer window have been hit by a triple blow that will complicate their prospects of signing Nico Williams from Athletic Club.
READ MORE: Barcelona deal Arsenal and Chelsea Nico Williams transfer blow as 'PRIORITY' message sent
Current ETV
Ronald Araujo
D (CR)
Barcelona
Ronald Araujo
D (CR)
Barcelona
ETV Range
€34.8M - €58M
The Spain winger, who has shone at Euro 2024, has become the Catalan side’s priority, yet Barca face their perennial problem of raising funds to complete a deal.
Sport, the Blaugrana were banking on receiving €100m for Araujo, who was monitored by Manchester United and Bayern Munich, but this deal is said to have been put “on hold”.
READ MORE: Latest Barcelona transfer rumours
Raphinha to refuse €100m Saudi transfer
Raphinha is doubling down on his refusal to leave Barcelona to make a move to the Saudi Pro League – despite the prospect of huge riches in the Gulf.
The Brazil star is offering Barcelona a huge headache, with Sport describing his status as “entrenched” and the prospect of moving him on as “mission impossible”.
According to the report, there is an offer on the table from the Saudi Pro League worth €100m (including bonuses) for the Brazil international.
On top of this, it is claimed that the player would be paid twice as much as he receives at Barcelona, and on top of this would have a “very generous” bonus allocation.
A sale for €80m would allow Barca to make two major signings, yet Raphinha is unwilling to leave Barcelona.
“He remains adamant about his desire to experience a third season at the Blaugrana and has made this clear to Deco, who was his agent and is not the club’s director of football,” Sport indicates.
Al-Hilal, Neymar's side, are said to be the favourites to land Raphinha if he can be prised away from Barcelona.
Current ETV
Raphinha
F (R)
Barcelona
Raphinha
F (R)
Barcelona
ETV Range
€18.3M - €30.4M
Barcelona sign 14-year-old left-footer ‘on another level’
Barcelona have completed the signing of 14-year-old wonderkid Byron Mendoza, who is described as a “magical left-footer on another level”.
Unable to sign a professional contract until he turns 16 in September 2025, Barcelona have beaten Real Madrid to sign Mendoza, who previously turned out for the youth teams of the Bernabeu side but also Leganes.
Roger Rodriguez, the coach of the Cadet A team of Fornells, who saw Mendoza play at the Donosti Cup, told Sport: “I haven’t seen a player a player like him in a long time, he’s on another level. He’s got a magical left foot, he’s very quick and not only unbalances defenders on the outside but also the inside.
“He’s a marvel who has a deadly shot and is not at all individualistic. He knows how to link up very well.”
Able to play across the attack, comparisons will doubtless be drawn to Lionel Messi, the greatest left-footer to play the game.
