Blues spending shocks Barcelona
Source: Agencies |
February 10, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
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CHELSEA'S 50 million pound (US$80 million) purchase of Fernando Torres from Liverpool shocked officials at Barcelona, its director of football said on Tuesday.
Raul Sanllehi said the Spanish champion "would not even consider" paying such a high fee.
"I was shocked by the amount spent. I know Barcelona would not do that signing," Sanllehi said on the sidelines of a meeting of Europe's top clubs, who discussed new UEFA rules to curb transfer spending.
However, he conceded that "Chelsea got stronger and Liverpool got weaker" by making the deal.
"An additional value of those signings was that you diminished the opponent at the same time as strengthening your own team," Sanllehi said.
The Torres deal capped a record January transfer window spree of 225 million pounds by English clubs, with Chelsea accounting for more than 70 million pounds.
Barcelona's total spending was a modest, 3 million euros (US$4 million) on PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Afellay - a change from its previous spending habits. Just 18 months ago, Barcelona gave Inter Milan a reported 46 million euros (then US$66 million) plus Samuel Eto'o to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Ibrahimovic deal helped drive the 2009 European champion's total debts to more than 400 million euros.
Last year, Barcelona called on emergency refinancing after making a near 80 million euros loss for the season.
Sanllehi said the need for new money contributed to Barcelona striking its first deal to sell advertising space on its shirts. The Qatar Foundation will pay Barcelona 150 million euros over the next five seasons to appear on the iconic blue-and-red kit.
Raul Sanllehi said the Spanish champion "would not even consider" paying such a high fee.
"I was shocked by the amount spent. I know Barcelona would not do that signing," Sanllehi said on the sidelines of a meeting of Europe's top clubs, who discussed new UEFA rules to curb transfer spending.
However, he conceded that "Chelsea got stronger and Liverpool got weaker" by making the deal.
"An additional value of those signings was that you diminished the opponent at the same time as strengthening your own team," Sanllehi said.
The Torres deal capped a record January transfer window spree of 225 million pounds by English clubs, with Chelsea accounting for more than 70 million pounds.
Barcelona's total spending was a modest, 3 million euros (US$4 million) on PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Afellay - a change from its previous spending habits. Just 18 months ago, Barcelona gave Inter Milan a reported 46 million euros (then US$66 million) plus Samuel Eto'o to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Ibrahimovic deal helped drive the 2009 European champion's total debts to more than 400 million euros.
Last year, Barcelona called on emergency refinancing after making a near 80 million euros loss for the season.
Sanllehi said the need for new money contributed to Barcelona striking its first deal to sell advertising space on its shirts. The Qatar Foundation will pay Barcelona 150 million euros over the next five seasons to appear on the iconic blue-and-red kit.
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