On the final day of the transfer window. One year loan with $20 Million option to buy.
Reportedly, Aubemayeng to Chelsea for $14 Million and Marcos Alonso coming the other way to Barcelona. And, Hector Bellerin coming from Arsenal to Barcelona for $8 Million.
As a Barca fan, I’m glad Dest will get a chance to play somewhere. I didn’t understand Xavi’s lack of confidence in him, but it was clear he wouldn’t have played at Barca.
Aubemayeng was surplusage at Barca and he does score goals, so he should help Chelsea. I have never been a fan of Alonso and if he holds back the development of Balde at left back, that’s bad. If he replaces Jordi Alba in a reserve role, that’s a wash. From $35 Million for Aubemayeng to $14 Million plus Alonso was good business by Chelsea.
Five years ago, I would have loved Bellerin at Barcelona. Now, not so much. It demonstrates that Xavi plans to stick to a back 4, which I don’t think is their best formation, but it does mean that Kounde, their best CB, will play there instead of RB.
The most amazing news of the day for Barca fans is that they got Martin Braithwaite off the books. Even though he would not have played a minute this year as the 8th or 9th option at Forward, he refused to leave the city because of his business interests there. So, they let him sign with crosstown rival Espanyol. By getting his salary off the books along with Dest, Aubemayeng and Umtiti, they should be able to register Bellerin and Alonso.
For me, the saddest part of this whole saga is Umtiti. At 22, he was Barca’s best CB and on his way to becoming one of the best CBs in the world. Then, 2 serious leg injuries, the second coming a month after he returned from the first, turned him into a shell of his former self. There was a short video today of him being mobbed by fans of his new team. He was crying with joy, probably because he has been so disrespected in Barca the past 3 years.
That entire crop of great young CBs has been decimated by serious leg injuries: Umtiti, Raphael Varennes, de Ligt, Van Dijk.
Reportedly, Aubemayeng to Chelsea for $14 Million and Marcos Alonso coming the other way to Barcelona. And, Hector Bellerin coming from Arsenal to Barcelona for $8 Million.
As a Barca fan, I’m glad Dest will get a chance to play somewhere. I didn’t understand Xavi’s lack of confidence in him, but it was clear he wouldn’t have played at Barca.
Aubemayeng was surplusage at Barca and he does score goals, so he should help Chelsea. I have never been a fan of Alonso and if he holds back the development of Balde at left back, that’s bad. If he replaces Jordi Alba in a reserve role, that’s a wash. From $35 Million for Aubemayeng to $14 Million plus Alonso was good business by Chelsea.
Five years ago, I would have loved Bellerin at Barcelona. Now, not so much. It demonstrates that Xavi plans to stick to a back 4, which I don’t think is their best formation, but it does mean that Kounde, their best CB, will play there instead of RB.
The most amazing news of the day for Barca fans is that they got Martin Braithwaite off the books. Even though he would not have played a minute this year as the 8th or 9th option at Forward, he refused to leave the city because of his business interests there. So, they let him sign with crosstown rival Espanyol. By getting his salary off the books along with Dest, Aubemayeng and Umtiti, they should be able to register Bellerin and Alonso.
For me, the saddest part of this whole saga is Umtiti. At 22, he was Barca’s best CB and on his way to becoming one of the best CBs in the world. Then, 2 serious leg injuries, the second coming a month after he returned from the first, turned him into a shell of his former self. There was a short video today of him being mobbed by fans of his new team. He was crying with joy, probably because he has been so disrespected in Barca the past 3 years.
That entire crop of great young CBs has been decimated by serious leg injuries: Umtiti, Raphael Varennes, de Ligt, Van Dijk.
