REVEALED: Barcelona receive offers for EIGHT stars

Cameron Smith

• 3 Jul 2023 11:21 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has admitted the Blaugrana have received transfer offers for eight first-team stars, but reinforced the message that they “are not a selling club.”

Xavi led the Camp Nou outfit to La Liga glory last season, finishing 10 points clear of Real Madrid to bring the league title back to Catalonia for the first time since 2019.

However, they exited the Champions League in the group stages for the second consecutive campaign, while the club tasted defeat against Manchester United in the Europa League last-16.

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In light of their European failures, Laporta has backed Xavi by signing Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer, who played a pivotal role in helping Pep Guardiola’s side achieve a historic treble in 2022/23.

Barcelona’s financial issues have been well documented, but they pushed hard to convince Lionel Messi to rejoin the club after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain was confirmed. Ultimately, however, they were unsuccessful, with Messi opting to join Inter Miami in the MLS.

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Laporta refuses to sell Barca’s star players

Barcelona have been linked with signing a defensive midfielder to replace Sergio Busquets, who has joined Messi at Barcelona, and Laporta is focused on acquisitions rather than sales.

“We have received offers for Christensen, for Gavi, for Pedri, for Araújo, for Ter Stegen, for Ansu, for Raphinha, for Balde,” he admitted. “But we are not a selling club. We have no intention to sell our stars.”

Laporta also told La Vanguardia: “Oriol Romeu next signing? This type of option is now being worked on by the technical area.”

The former Southampton man has been heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou after impressing at Girona last season. Martin Zubimendi was reportedly Barca’s first-choice, but his €60 million release clause is deemed outside of the club’s budget.

“He [Xavi] understands the club’s situation,” Laporta added. “He would like to strengthen the midfield, but he knows that some options are unfeasible and we would be making a mistake [to go for them].”