FOver the decades, FC Barcelona has been known for building some of the best teams in soccer history. This Spanish club has produced legends like Lionel Messi and conquered Europe with its unique style of play.
However, along with that success, Barcelona also made some costly mistakes in the transfer market. Many of the big-money signings have not lived up to expectations, and in some cases contributed to the club’s financial woes in recent years. One of the most puzzling deals came in 2020, when Barcelona acquired Miralem Piani from Juventus.
Lamine Yamal does something in front of the camera that soccer fans rarely see
There were immediate doubts about the move, as the Bosnian midfielder is already 30 years old and has shown signs of decline over the past two seasons. This move was closely linked to another deal in which Barcelona sent Arthur Melo to Juventus. These two moves were widely seen as accounting maneuvers designed to balance the books of both clubs rather than strengthen the team on the field. Neither player made much of an impact after the swap. Piani struggled to establish himself in Barcelona’s midfield and was eventually loaned out to Beikta JK, but Juventus ultimately won the deal.
A Brazilian with a lot of attention who didn’t fit in with the world
Another high-profile disappointment was Philippe Coutinho, who joined Barcelona from Liverpool FC in 2018 for a starting salary of 121 million plus bonuses. The Brazilian was expected to help fill the creative vacuum left after Neymar left for Paris Saint-Germain in a record move. Instead, Coutinho struggled to find a consistent role within the team. His preferred position often overlapped with Messi’s, limiting his influence on the field.
A loan spell with FC Bayern Munich during the 2019-20 season had mixed results, and a return to Barcelona did little to change the perception that the move was an expensive miscalculation. The following summer, Barcelona made another big gamble by acquiring Antoine Griezmann from Atlético Madrid for $120 million. From a tactical point of view, the move looked problematic from the start. Griezmann’s strengths as a support striker meant he was often placed on the same field as Messi, and was sometimes forced to play out of position.
The French forward never fully adapted to the system and gave modest performances considering his price. In two seasons, he scored 21 league goals, but only four in the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona failed to win either La Liga or the Champions League during his tenure, and the club ultimately sent him back to Atltico Madrid in 2021 at a huge financial loss.
An iconic player who couldn’t find his rhythm
More than a decade ago, Barcelona completed another controversial deal by acquiring Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan in 2009. The deal was valued at around $68 million and included Inter-bound striker Samuel Eto’o. Ibrahimovic scored a respectable 21 goals in 45 games and helped Barcelona win La Liga and several other trophies, but his relationship with manager Josep Guardiola quickly deteriorated.
With Messi moving into a false nine role, Ibrahimovic lost his place in the starting lineup. Things got even tougher for Barcelona when Eto’o played a part in Inter’s elimination in the Champions League semi-finals that season. After just one year in Spain, Ibrahimovic ended up joining AC Milan for a total transfer fee of around $24 million, which was far less than what Barcelona had invested.
Ousmane Demble may be the most emblematic example of Barcelona’s transfer struggles during this period. The French winger joined from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 for $105 million, and including bonuses, the total could be closer to $145 million. Barcelona are looking for a replacement for Neymar and Dortmund have gained influence in the negotiations after recently receiving a record transfer fee for the Brazilian.
Demble showed great potential in France with Stade Renne FC and in Germany with Dortmund, but his time in Spain was frequently interrupted by injuries. These fitness issues prevented him from consistently reaching the level expected of a player signed for such a large sum. The disappointment was compounded by the fact that he left the club in 2022 on a Bosman transfer, which meant Barcelona were unable to recoup any of their initial investment.
