I actually just explained this very thing has nothing to do with the point. Can someone else help out here? maybe he'll get it if it comes from someone else.
Edit I'll try and rephrase. The point is the debt should not factor into the valuation of the transfer, at any stage. It's a separate obligation only the two parties were ever privy to.
edit 2 this would almost be like buying a car and having the seller require you to cover his bus ticket or gas getting there or some prior independent overlapping transaction that has nothing to do with you. We at least have common ground they are indeed acting like scammers.
I get it perfectly well, I just don't care nearly as much as you do about it.
And your example is perfect, since there is "buying in a chain", which is quite popular when purchasing a home in the UK, and it is more or less exactly that. One deal is blocked until another event happens. And most times, the event is linked with the money that will change hands in the blocked deal.
In our case, Barca are likely figuring out an accounting way of delaying paying Frenkie off this year all the while getting the money they will be paying him, upfront, from United, and somehow persuading Frenkie to accept the latest financial trick and move to Manchester.
And I don't see anything wrong with that. The shameful thing is how they remain that posture of parallel financial weakness and strength. It is weird and sad, especially since players apparently don't give a fudge, because their agents and lawyers have assured them that they will be getting the money they signed on, even if Barca goes bankrupt.
Overall, I just don't get your negativity around this. Ten Hag wants the player, so who cares how it happens, as long as it happens, right?