GERMANY
Xavi prevents Ronald Araújo from joining Bayern Munich
According to The Athletic, the German club were willing to spend €80 million on the Uruguayan.
Bayern Munich spent a total of €35 million on winter signings Sacha Boey (Galatasaray), Eric Dier (Tottenham) and Bryan Zaragoza (Granada), but, according to The Athletic, that amount could have increased considerably had a deal materialised for Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araújo.
Xavi stops deal
According to the report, the Uruguayan defender was the main target for the six-time European champions in January and they had an agreement with the player. The board of the reigning Bundesliga champions had also given the green light to an offer of €80 million for Araújo, but it was then that Blaugrana coach Xavi stepped in to put the brakes on the operation.
Xavi ended up announcing the end of his time at Camp Nou and Munich have signed a considerably cheaper option in England defender Eric Dier. The versatile Tottenham player arrived in the Bavarian capital on loan with an option for a further year in a deal that does not include a transfer fee, but only a loan fee of no more than €4m in total.