Barcelona wants to cooperate with the departure of Memphis Depay in January, sources in Spain report. According to Sport, there is hope among the Barcelona leadership that the Orange international can be sold to Newcastle United.
Little action on the transfer market is expected from Barcelona in the winter. The financial room in Camp Nou is still extremely limited. It is necessary to go through the selection with the broom, in order to create space for reinforcements. Memphis is seen as one of the main candidates for an outgoing transfer.
The contract of the 28-year-old attacker expires next summer. Barcelona must therefore sell him in the current situation in January to collect another transfer fee. Sources have reported to Sport that Barça is seeking a transfer fee of ten to fifteen million euros for the striker, who does not play a major role in coach Xavi’s plans. Memphis was on the bench for the first four league games in the current season and then got injured after two appearances in La Liga.
Newcastle would keep a close eye on Memphis’ situation. The people’s club that is in Saudi hands has many financial opportunities and the sporting ambitions can be underlined by getting the Orange star. The Magpies are having an excellent season. The Newcastle of manager Eddie Howe and Dutchman Sven Botman is a good third in the Premier League.
Xavi’s disaapointment
The club’s manager commented on competing in the Europa League rather than the UCL. “We are enthusiastically heading towards the Europa League,” Xavi said at Barça TV about the continuation in Europe. “Maybe it’s good to play in the shade a bit more to grow.”
Yet it gnaws that Barcelona is no longer active on the highest podium in Europe after the winter break. “I don’t like that we don’t hear the Champions League anthem anymore. We don’t like it, it makes us angry. It’s a huge disappointment,” said Xavi.
The coach recalls how Barcelona’s Champions League dream was shattered, “After the elimination we played like zombies against Bayern. It makes us angry that we are playing in a league in which we don’t want to play. Even if we reach the semi-final or final.”
Reality forces Barcelona to set new goals. “I would like to become champion and win the Europa League. You always have to go for all the prizes,” he concluded. Then Barcelona will first have to deal with Manchester United, which will visit Camp Nou on February 16.
