Barcelona FLOP demands club exit or threatens retirement

Tom Weber

• Updated: 25 Jul 2023 16:49 BST
• 3 min read

Martin Braithwaite has experienced a turbulent few years and he is now pondering retirement unless Espanyol sanction his departure, according to Spanish media.

The Danish striker was once the protagonist of one of LaLiga's biggest transfer scandals. In the summer of 2019, Leganes made his loan from Middlesbrough permanent and Braithwaite quickly became an important player, scoring six goals in 24 appearances.

By February 2020, he was gone. With Ousmane Dembele struck down by injury, Barcelona triggered Braithwaite's €18 million release clause - a good deal for Leganes on paper. The problem was that the transfer window had already closed, but due to Dembele's injury, Barcelona were granted an exception to sign him.

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Leganes, however, were not given permission to bring in a replacement: having lost their talismanic forward, they ended up getting relegated and they haven't returned since, finishing in mid-table of the second division over the past two seasons.

Braithwaite eventually left the Blaugrana to join hated Barcelona rivals Espanyol, but the player is once again embroiled in drama.

Braithwaite threatens retirement

The Catalans were relegated to the Segunda Division last term despite the Dane scoring 10 goals in 31 matches. Now, Relevo claim that he has packed his bags and is ready to leave.

He left Espanyol's pre-season camp without notifying the club and is trying to force through a move. He has no intention to play in the second tier next term.

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The report claims that the 32-year-old is even threatening to retire if no suitable offers come in for him. He is still under contract with Espanyol until 2025, so in order for him to move, the club would have to sanction his exit, either by tearing up his contract or by accepting a bid.

Espanyol are keen to return to LaLiga at the first time of asking and head coach Luis Garcia has already made it clear that players who don't want to stay will not be tolerated.