Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen will open the first chapter of signings of the first team of Barcelona for the 2022-2023 season. The double incorporation, as reported by MD, was agreed many weeks ago. But the Ivorian midfielder for Milan and the Danish central defender for Chelsea have preferred to be scrupulous with the forms and both one and the other only confirmed that they were not going to follow one in San Siro and the other, at Stamford Bridge. The second part of their history, the one that will confirm a common future at the Camp Nou, is imminent. Kessie and Christensen end their current contract next Thursday.
June 30 is, indeed, a key date for Barcelona, institutionally and, therefore, in sports. The financial year closes on that day and so that the balance can be positive, it is imperative that one of the financial “levers” for which the club has worked be activated, with the sale of a percentage yet to be determined of the television rights of “favourite” in the forecasts. In the recent Assembly of compromises, a free pass was given to negotiate for a 25% ceiling. All sports policy also depends on that calendar.
On Monday, July 4, Barca 2022-2023 begins the pre-season and the coach Xavi Hernandez prefers to start with the largest possible number of players. Kessie (25 years old) and Christensen (26 years old), were club signings, due to their market opportunity status, but they also have the approval of the coach, who will start his first full season. It is more predictable that Kessie, starter of the champion Milan and scorer of seven goals last season, could start from the beginning, although it should be ruled out that Christensen, central defender not so usual at Chelsea this season who, however, plated the UEFA Nations League with the Danish national team.
Another signings that Barcelona wants to do are, for example, Robert Lewandowski, Kounde, Bernardo Silva or Cesar Azpilicueta. We will see if they achieve all this players that are on the market.
Jorge Barbero