Barcelona Transfer News: Joao Felix likely to stay at Camp Nou, but on THIS condition

Barcelona’s 2023-24 season will have a decisive couple of weeks as their bid for silverware continues under the reign of manager Xavi Hernandez. However, the gaffer won’t be part of the plans for the next season as the club is already working out plans for the 2024-25 season. One of the plans for next season involves getting back the services of Portugal international João Félix, who is currently on loan from Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona Transfer News

According to reliable sources as of Wednesday (Mar 6), Felix’s agent Jorge Mendes and FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta met at the latter’s residence to resolve the futures of Félix and Joao Cancelo. According to Gabriel Sans and Fernando Polo of Mundo Deportivo, although all options are on the table because Barcelona is unaware of the salary cap for the summer, the most feasible option currently being worked on is their loan.

It is understood that Barcelona are interested in signing both Félix and Cancelo, however, the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules prevent them from signing players on higher salaries. Felix is valued in excess of $80  million while Cancelo is valued at around $30 million. Barcelona’s FFP regulations and La Liga’s salary cap rules mean that neither player could be registered as a permanent signing before there are lucrative outgoings.

Interestingly, Felix is interested in a move to Barcelona while Atletico Madrid are also not willing to welcome the player back. This makes Barcelona favourites to sign the player on loan which is the only way the player can still stay at the club. Felix’s current deal runs until 2029 which is a big problem for Atletico Madrid to pay the wages, but with Barcelona willing to cover the salary in a loan deal it benefits both parties.

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Could Felix’s deal be made permanent?

While all parties are happy with Felix’s stay in Barcelona, it is the permanent deal that is the biggest stumbling block. Barcelona will have to pay a hefty price to get the services of the player on a permanent basis. For the permanent deal to happen the five-time European champions will have to sell big players to balance the pay slip. But the issue could be resolved if Atletico terminate Felix’s contract with mutual consent and allow him to join the Catalonian side on a free transfer.

But this won’t be the end of the matter for Barcelona as they will still need to balance the salary cap. Even if Felix arrives on a free transfer, Barcelona will have to get rid of a few players to balance the salary cap. This could be achieved if Felix takes a pay cut coupled with a free transfer while needing other players to also take a pay cut to remain at the club.

This is exactly the same scenario that involves Kylian Mbappe’s reported move to Real Madrid where he is taking a pay cut coupled with a free transfer to balance the pay slip.

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