Barcelona hires the midfielder for Milan and the central defender for Chelsea until 2026, with salaries of around six million a year.
Barcelona made the signings of Frank Kessie and Andreas Christensen official on Monday, the same day that Xavi´s team started training with the surprise appearance of Riqui Puig and Neto. The coach had exempted both players, as well as Umtiti and Mingueza, from having to appear for the pre-season medical tests while urging them to find a team away from the Camp Nou.
Xavi wants to lighten the squad and last May he already communicated to the footballers he does not have that they will look for a team and they will be released for the start of the 2021-2022 academic year. Also on the casualty list are Wague and Lenglet, who is negotiating his transfers to Tottemham, as well as Braithwaite, who in any case has permission until 11 after having played in the League of Nations with Denmark.
Those summoned this Monday were Ter Stegen, Peña, Dest, Pique, Nico, Aubameyang, Pedri, Sergi Roberto, Balde, Pjanic, Collado, Raj Manaj, Trincao, Adbe, Pablo Torre and Kessie. On the 11th it will be the turn of Eric Garcia, Alba, Busquets, Gavi, Ferran Torres, Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay, Araujo and Christensen.
Although Ansu Fati was in this group, the striker brought forward his incorporation and is already training at the Barça sports city.
Alves, Luuk de Jong and Adama have already left the club, it does not seem that those who have returned from their assignments will continue –Pjanic, Collado, Manaj and Trincao-, there are doubts about the future of Frenkie de Jong and they are still waiting both Dembele´s response and Gavi´s renewal. The club, meanwhile, is still interested in the signings of Lewandowski, Kounde, Rapinha, Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso.
Finally, the free signings of Christensen and Kessie are really good news for Barcelona. Let´s see if they are able to compete to be as starters of Xavi Hernandez.
Jorge Barbero
