The end of the transfer window once again exposed the enormous financial gap between the Premier League and LaLiga. While Barça couldn't make any last-minute moves, Tottenham made a statement by signing one of the top talents that the Catalan club had been monitoring. This move has surprised those at Can Barça and has been felt as an internal defeat.
The footballer in question is neither Gavi, nor Fermín López, nor Marc Casadó. This is one of the prospects that Barça considered part of its medium-term future. However, with the limitations of fair play and the impossibility of reaching the 1:1 rule, the blaugrana club couldn't compete with the English offer.
Gavi has come back unstoppable | @pablogavi
Pedri, the big loser
Pedri's name has been indirectly linked to this move because the Canary Islander was hoping for the arrival of a new attacking partner. The midfielder started the season at a superb level, but he has missed greater decisiveness in the final third. Flick had requested a reinforcement to complement his football, but the move was canceled due to a lack of financial margin.
Pedri didn't hide his disappointment after the draw in Vallecas, in which he once again showed his best version. However, he saw how the chances wasted by the forwards prevented him from adding three vital points. That lack of finishing power was what he hoped to solve with the failed signing.
Instead, it was Tottenham that acted quickly. The English club completed the signing of an striker who was on Barça's radar in a matter of hours. This move shows how the Premier League remains several steps ahead of LaLiga.
Pedri filtering a pass during the match | @FCBarcelona
The Premier League accelerates, Barça stands still
Tottenham has been one of the most active teams in the market and didn't hesitate to go after the player. In London, they were certain that this was a profile that could make a difference, and they didn't want to wait. The financial offer and contract terms were impossible for Barça to match, which couldn't even register him.
At Can Barça, the frustration is clear. Deco and Laporta acknowledge that without major sales, it's unfeasible to compete in operations of this level. Although the intention was to strengthen the attack, time and financial limitations made it impossible.
Tottenham, meanwhile, has added a piece that fits the Premier League: young, fast, versatile, and with room to grow. This is the kind of footballer that Barça needs, but it has seen slip away due to a lack of maneuvering room.
Xavi Simons | @xavisimons
Tottenham's big signing is Xavi Simons, a midfielder who was on Flick's radar. The striker, considered one of the best possible partners for Pedri due to his ability to link up and create danger, has ended up landing in the Premier League.
Barça loses a talent who could've changed its attack, while Pedri is left without his desired partner. Tottenham, meanwhile, celebrates having signed the best possible profile at the last moment of the transfer window.
