FC Barcelona has surprised the market with an unexpected move in the final moments of the summer. Joan Laporta and Deco have activated a deal that was practically on its way to Real Betis, but will ultimately have a different outcome. The blaugrana club has used its contacts to get ahead and secure a talent with enormous potential.
The sporting management had been exploring the market for weeks in search of opportunities that were accessible both athletically and financially. With fair play issues still influencing decisions, the Culers needed a low-cost signing. The opportunity arose at Villarreal and they did not hesitate to seize it before it was too late.
The big loser in this story is Real Betis, which had positioned itself as the favorite. The Seville club had been negotiating for some time, trusting that its proposal would convince the player and his entourage. However, Barça acted quickly and closed the deal for just 10 million euros.
A strategic signing for Hansi Flick
The German coach had been insisting for weeks on strengthening the attack with a different profile. Flick believes that the squad lacks depth in the offensive front and that not everything can fall on Lamine Yamal. Rashford's adaptation is taking longer than desired, which increased the pressure to find an immediate reinforcement.
In that context, the ideal option appeared: a young, powerful forward with experience in the Spanish elite. The player also arrives at a very affordable cost considering the prices currently circulating in Europe. For Flick, this is a reinforcement with room for growth but with the ability to perform from day one.
Barça had explored other alternatives in the international market, but none fit the necessary conditions. That's why, when this opportunity arose in LaLiga, the board focused on closing it immediately.
Betis loses a key battle
In Seville, there is some frustration because they trusted that the player would wear green and white this very season. Betis saw him as the piece that could complete an attack in full reconstruction. The agreement seemed on track, but Barça's emergence changed everything.
The appeal of a project like the Culer one has been decisive in the footballer's final decision. For a young player with international aspirations, the chance to share a locker room with Pedri or Lamine Yamal is irresistible. In addition, the presence of Hansi Flick as coach adds guarantees of growth in a demanding environment.
The Betis directors do not hide their discomfort, although they admit that it was difficult to compete with Barça. The transfer figures, just 10 million euros, make the defeat in negotiations even more painful. The footballer wanted a leap and that leap will be to Camp Nou.
The chosen one
The protagonist of this deal is Etta Eyong, a 21-year-old Cameroonian forward who played for Villarreal. Known for his physical strength, his speed on the run, and his dribbling ability, Eyong has been one of the recent revelations in LaLiga. Flick sees him as the perfect complement to provide offensive alternatives to the team.
The African forward adds experience at the top level despite his youth. Last season, he scored 20 goals and provided several assists between the first team and the reserves, numbers that caught the attention of many clubs. His relatively low release clause was key for Barça to get ahead.
The signing is seen as a medium-term strategic move. Eyong arrives to compete right away, but also as an investment that could increase in value in a few years. Barça thus secures a footballer with both present and a promising future ahead.
With this move, the club sends a clear message to the market: the priority is to strengthen without jeopardizing the finances. Eyong is considered a "low cost" signing with great potential that also excites the fans. The Culer supporters enthusiastically welcome the arrival of a different profile than what was in the squad.
Meanwhile, Betis will have to redo its plans after losing a top target. Barça, on the other hand, celebrates having secured a piece that fits its sporting and financial project. Flick smiles: he now has the physical and fast winger he desperately demanded.
Etta Eyong's signing for 10 million euros becomes the big surprise of the blaugrana market.