Look I get Barca’s financial situation and I buy that they really need him off the wage books. However if that is true then I can’t explain why Barca aren’t trying to freeze him out.
I know the optimists here keep going on about “he’s Barca’s player” and “they have every right to take him on tour” and they’re right, but it looks like the onus is on Barca to force him out of the club.
If they are serious about doing so. They have to take harsh measures like leaving him off the tour like they did Brathwaite and the likes, they have to threaten to not let him train with the first team all year.
In short - they have to act like there’s no future for FdJ at Barca. The fact that they’re not doing that makes me a bit less confident in this happening. Makes me think they might find a way to come to some sort of resolution without selling FdJ - maybe sell other players, maybe get some wage cuts across the board or do some other financial feckery to make it work.
I wish this happens, I really do, but I think people are putting too much faith in “assurances” that might just be hints and backup options rather than a proper desire to join. And I also think some people are putting ETH on a bit of a pedestal. Maybe he’s just a bit blinded by the faint possibility of FdJ joining that he doesn’t wanna give it up. Or maybe he’s being a bit pigheaded too - top level coaches are known to be that at times like Jose and Pep as well.
Also wish Barca were more forceful with forcing him out like other clubs have been towards players in the past. It’s on them to force him out, he’s clearly not gonna go willingly.