Barça has been very active in this summer market, closing deals with admirable speed. Joan García, Marcus Rashford, and Roony Bardghji are already part of Flick's project for next season. With a very limited total investment, the club has strengthened several strategic positions.
However, not everything is good news in the offices at Camp Nou, where there have also been frustrations. Some negotiations have been frozen for economic reasons, and others have been ruled out due to lack of time. One of the most striking cases has been that of a young prospect who will now play in Paris.
Barça had secured one of the most promising goalkeepers in Europe, but ultimately decided not to go through with his signing. The club valued his quality, youth, and potential as key factors for the future of the blaugrana goal. However, an amount considered disproportionate ended up stopping his arrival in the Catalan capital.
Deco chose the safer and more affordable route
Instead of taking a risk with a multi-million euro deal, Deco chose to finalize the signing of Joan García. The Catalan goalkeeper, with experience in LaLiga and a much more accessible price, convinced the sporting department. His arrival allows the club to strengthen the present without compromising its financial balance.
The decision, however, has had consequences. Barça has lost the lead for a goalkeeper who was also being followed by other European giants. Meanwhile, in the end, PSG was the one who made a move before anyone else and closed his signing.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the agreement is already signed and the official announcement is imminent. The goalkeeper will make the leap to one of the most powerful teams on the continent. He will do so making it clear that Barça had also been very close to securing his services.
The deal has sparked internal debate
The transfer fee has been one of the main reasons for halting the negotiation from the blaugrana side. The player will cost around €40 million, which the club considers unreasonable. At Can Barça, they are not in a position to take on that kind of deal for a backup.
In addition, Deco's preference was to bring in someone who knew the environment and would not need to adapt. Joan García offered exactly that: immediate performance, low cost, and room for growth. That's why the club finalized his arrival first and put the other option on hold.
Even so, within the sporting management there was strong interest in the French goalkeeper. He was seen as the ideal heir to Ter Stegen in the medium term. His performances in Europe and Ligue 1 had been closely followed by the scouting team.
PSG seizes the opportunity and moves ahead
In Paris, they have been quicker and closed the signing without hesitation. The situation with Donnarumma is delicate, and the club was looking for a reliable replacement as soon as possible. The chosen option has been decisive, and the agreement with the player is now complete.
PSG has shown it has more financial muscle and fewer qualms about betting on young players with a high price tag. Luis Enrique has given the green light to the signing for his immediate and long-term potential. Thus, the Parisians have secured one of the best young goalkeepers on the continent.
The protagonist of this deal is none other than Lucas Chevalier, breakout goalkeeper from Lille and chosen as the best goalkeeper in Ligue 1. At 23 years old, he was one of the great bets for Barça's future. This time, Deco has prioritized budget balance, and PSG has taken advantage of the opening to sign him.