Significant changes have taken place at FC Barcelona in this summer transfer window as several players who played an important role in the team last season are no longer at the club. The most prominent of these players is Ilkay Gundogan, who was among the most used players in Xavi’s squad last season but has already left for Manchester City.
Similarly, Sergi Roberto and Oriol Romeu have also left the club, while Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo have also taken new turns in their careers after their loan season with Barcelona.
Barcelona wanted to keep Joao Cancelo in their squad for this season as well, but the fullback has now joined the Saudi side Al-Hilal.
To replace him, one of the candidates that the Blaugranes had in mind was the Almeria fullback Marc Pubill. According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona were interested in getting him, but their attempts to land him failed to materialize because of the high fee demanded by Almeria, who were also not open to sending him on loan.
Pubill had a €40 million release clause in his contract, but the Andalusian club was open to letting him leave for around €25 million. However, the Catalans were unable to afford even this sum in their current condition, and talks broke down. A loan was not considered as Almeria was not going to accept it, and Barcelona would also have wanted a free loan.
The player himself was willing to move to Barcelona, but understands that an agreement between the two clubs is highly complicated. He has himself admitted that he will probably remain at Almeria this season. On the other hand, Deco had promised him that they will do everything to sign him, but the figures involved in the operation made it very difficult for Barcelona.
