BARCELONA
Barça post-Neymar have spent €618.5 million on transfers
Coutinho (160), Dembélé (140) and De Jong (86) are the most expensive signings and Barça's wage bill is also very high, which seems unsustainable.
Barcelona are spending money at an incredible rate since selling Neymar. Since the Brazilian left during the summer of 2017, their pockets have become a lot lighter: €618.47 million lighter to be precise, which includes the €86 million for Frenkie de Jong including variables that they will have to pay to Ajax.
As part of the rebuild after losing Neymar, they signed Coutinho for €160 million and Dembélé for €140 million. But they didn't need to just replace him as rejuvenating the squad was also on the agenda before he landed his bombshell.
De Jong should ease worries about an aging Busquets but they still haven't found a replacement for Luis Suárez or Gerard Piqué, who make up the spine of the group. We won't even talk about Lionel Messi, who is on his way to his 32nd birthday.
Barcelona on an unsustainable spending spree
The club has recovered €386.25 million in sales with Neymar's €222 million price making up the bulk of that. They were also helped with sales of Paulinho for €42 million, €30.25 for Mina (almost triple what he cost from Palmeiras), Lucas Digne for €20.20 million and Alcácer for €30 million.
Barcelona are €232.22 million out of pocket in recent years when it comes to transfers. According to an unwritten rule at the club, they have €60 million to spend on transfers every summer plus whatever money they can muster up in sales. With the signing of De Jong, it means they have already spent that and are in the red for €42.22 million at the end of the season regarding this sum. That's why reports suggest they will sell plenty of players during the summer.
Another issue is the wage bill, which is where their economics really falter. Along with Messi as the top earner, Suárez, Piqué, Busquets, Umtiti and Coutinho all have very high wages. Others like Ter Stegen and Dembélé are not far behind and Jordi Alba is still yet to be renewed.
It's a difficult situation to maintain for long but the signing of De Jong, for Bartomeu, was a matter of honour as he pulled one over on PSG.