Barcelona Wants to Pay Less Than Half the Price. Another Discount Hunt Begins?

Barcelona are once again trying to prove that transfer negotiations work best with a calculator in one hand and blind optimism in the other. According to Jordi Batalla of Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club remain interested in Racing Santander defender Jorge Salinas but are only willing to spend between €4 and €6 million. The problem? His release clause now stands at… €16 million. Then again, asking for a discount never costs anything.

The 19-year-old enjoyed an outstanding campaign, making 33 appearances, providing six assists and helping Racing return to La Liga after a 14-year absence. He then capped off the season by winning the UEFA European Under-19 Championship with Spain, even scoring in the semi-final against Croatia. Unsurprisingly, Racing have little intention of letting one of their brightest talents leave for a fraction of his value, especially with his contract running until 2029.

Barcelona reportedly see Salinas as a long-term investment, but their transfer strategy seems just as long-term: wait and hope the price magically drops. Jorge Mendes has already held talks with Joan Laporta and Deco, yet it’s hard to imagine anyone in Santander celebrating an offer worth barely a third of the release clause. After several familiar transfer sagas, another “maybe they’ll accept anyway” approach feels perfectly on brand.