“Barca to Delight in Al Hilal’s Latest Signing Announcement”

Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal have recently made headlines with their exciting new signing, Malcom, who joins the club from Zenit St. Petersburg in a staggering €60 million deal. While Malcom’s association with Al Hilal is unrelated to his past stint at Barcelona, interestingly, this transfer holds a reason for Barca to celebrate as well.

Back in 2019, Barcelona shrewdly negotiated Malcom’s move to Zenit for €40 million, demonstrating their astute business acumen. However, what truly showcased their strategic thinking was the inclusion of a 7.5% sell-on clause in Malcom’s contract. This clever clause meant that if Zenit ever sold the player for a profit, Barcelona would be entitled to receive a share of that gain.

Fast forward to the present, and Zenit has indeed profited immensely from Malcom’s transfer, earning a €20 million surplus. As per the agreement, Zenit will now be obliged to pay Barcelona a sum of €1.5 million from the proceeds of Al Hilal’s purchase of the Brazilian star.

While €1.5 million may not appear to be a colossal sum in the world of football’s extravagant dealings, it still signifies an impressive feat of financial engineering on Barcelona’s part. Essentially, they are reaping additional benefits from a player who was considered a flop during his time at the Camp Nou. Malcom’s tenure at Barcelona saw him featuring in only 24 matches, scoring four goals and contributing two assists. Despite limited playing time, fate had a unique twist for the Brazilian, and he managed to leave the Spanish giants as a La Liga champion.

For Barcelona, this windfall serves as a testament to the significance of foresight and well-crafted agreements in the world of football transfers. What might have seemed like a nominal add-on clause at the time of Malcom’s departure has now turned into a small yet meaningful financial reward for the Catalan club.

As Al Hilal eagerly welcomes their new star signing, the footballing world admires Barcelona’s savvy move, proving that even in the complex landscape of football transfers, well-calculated decisions can yield profitable outcomes. The €1.5 million secured through this deal might serve as a reminder to other clubs about the importance of incorporating such clauses in their contracts to protect their financial interests in the long run. With the ever-increasing stakes in the football market, Barcelona’s adept maneuver is a valuable lesson for clubs to exercise prudence and strategic thinking when negotiating player deals.