In recent years, FC Barcelona have made some business choices that have cost the clubs hundreds of millions of dollars. The Catalans spent millions on the transfers of players like Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, and Philippe Coutinho, but only Dembele was able to repay some of this amount through his performances at Barcelona.
While the losses made on these transfers can never be fully recovered, one of these players can result in a cash injection at the Catalan club when the Blaugranes desperately need it.
Barcelona to receive 50% of Philippe Coutinho transfer proceeds
According to Mundo Deportivo, there are several clubs in Qatar that are interested in Philippe Coutinho, and are willing to spend significant amounts of money on the Brazilian. Coutinho currently plays for Aston Villa, but Barcelona have a 50% right on any transfer fee obtained for the player, and this right can come in handy for the Catalans if a transfer materializes.
Barcelona sold the Brazilian to Aston Villa in 2022 for €20 million but retained 50% rights on any future sale. Thus, if one of the Qatari clubs pays a transfer fee for Coutinho this summer, Barcelona can recover a portion of the €135 million they paid for him to Liverpool in 2017.
Cash injection can significantly help Barcelona
Furthermore, Coutinho is also generating interest from Saudi Arabia, and wherever he moves to the Middle East this summer, his departure from Aston Villa would be good news for Barcelona. The Catalans are in a very strained financial situation currently, and need funds to acquire a right-back and an attacking midfielder this summer.
The proceeds from the sale of Coutinho can thus help the club sign an attacking midfielder, while the club is already quite close to a deal for the arrival of Joao Cancelo from Manchester City. However, the club also needs to lower its wage bill to incorporate these new players, and will have to sell some of its own players as soon as possible, with Lenglet and Dest already on the transfer list.
