Barça Nearing First Transfer Move

The Hidden Secret Behind Barça’s African Success Barça needs to balance its budgets and the management is attentive to all market opportunities that arise. One of them is Chadi Riad, the Moroccan center-back currently on loan at Betis, where he has made a spectacular breakthrough.

The Blaugrana club agreed with Betis on a mandatory purchase option at the end of the season worth three million, but also ensured to maintain control of the player for the first two seasons. Thus, the contract stipulates that the Barcelona club can recall the center-back this summer by paying seven million. Subtracting the three million it would earn, recovering the player would cost Barça four million. The sporting management has decided to exercise this option given Chadi Riad’s progress. The center-back has secured a starting position at Betis, playing 23 games: 19 in the league, 2 in the Conference League, and 2 in the Copa del Rey. His performance has even earned him a call-up to the Moroccan national team for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Riad debuted under the guidance of Walid Regragui in the friendly matches before this tournament, against Sierra Leone (3-1) and Mauritania (0-0), and is expected to be a key player for the Atlas Lions in the near future.

This progression has not gone unnoticed, and his agents are already considering several firm offers for when the summer transfer window opens. Betis is aware of these proposals, as is Barça, which hopes to benefit economically from them.

Riad moved to Betis with a market value of 500,000 euros, which has now risen to six million. Barça believes it could earn at least fifteen million from his sale, hence the decision to exercise its option to recall the player.

Additionally, the Blaugrana club would retain a percentage of any future sale, following the trend of recent seasons with other players like Jean Clair Todibo or Juan Miranda. The French center-back went to Nice for 8.5 million plus variables and a 20 percent future sale clause. The Andalusian joined Betis on a free transfer with a 40 percent future sale clause.

Despite his good performances, Pau Cubarsí’s emergence and the surplus of center-backs may block Riad’s path to the Barça first team. It should be noted that in addition to Cubarsí, Jules Koundé, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Iñigo Martínez, Eric García and Clement Lenglet are returning from loan spells, while at Barça Atlètic, Mika Faye and Mamadou Mbake are also vying for an opportunity.