Not just Hamza: Barcelona find two more dangerously low release clauses

Barcelona have reportedly opened talks over improved contracts for Xavi Espart and Brian Farinas. Both youngsters have already been promoted to Hansi Flick’s first-team squad, yet SPORT reports that their release clauses remain at €20 million each.

The club are also working on new terms for Hamza Abdelkarim, whose clause could rise from €15m to €150m. Barcelona reportedly want to set the same €150m figure for Espart, while the proposed amount in Farinas’ new deal has not been disclosed.

The first-team shirt numbers have arrived. The first-team contractual protection is now trying to catch up.

THREE TALKS, ONE CLEAR WARNING

Negotiations with the representatives of Espart, Farinas and Hamza are said to have started around two weeks ago. Early indications have been described as positive, with Barcelona hoping to complete the three agreements during September.

None of the renewals has been officially announced. The club have not confirmed new release clauses or published the details of any completed agreement, so the information must still be treated as a media report rather than a finished operation.

The urgency is understandable. Espart and Farinas have moved rapidly into the senior picture, but the clauses inherited from their previous status could leave them accessible to wealthier clubs. Barcelona presented the talent to the first team before making sure the contract matched the presentation.

ESPART COULD GO FROM €20M TO €150M

Espart has been given the No. 12 shirt and started Barcelona’s opening three La Liga fixtures. His versatility has allowed Flick to use him in defence and midfield, quickly increasing his importance and visibility.

According to SPORT’s latest report, his existing clause is €20m and Barcelona want to raise it to €150m. However, earlier information attributed to Catalunya Ràdio described an automatic system under which a reserve-team player’s clause could rise to €100m following a senior debut.

Barcelona have not published Espart’s contractual documents, leaving a discrepancy between the reports. The new negotiations nevertheless indicate that the club want to replace any uncertainty with a clearly defined and far more prohibitive figure.

FARINAS’ CLAUSE NO LONGER MATCHES HIS ROLE

Farinas is officially listed as a first-team midfielder and has inherited the No. 4 shirt. He was reportedly close to joining Girona during the summer before Flick intervened and asked the club to keep him.

SPORT places his current release clause at €20m. Some secondary reports have listed it at €15m, but the central point is consistent: Barcelona believe the existing figure is too low for a player now considered part of the senior squad.

The proposed renewal would improve his salary and increase the clause. Unlike the cases of Hamza and Espart, there has been no reliable confirmation that Barcelona have selected €150m as the target figure for Farinas.

THE DRO LESSON ARRIVED LATE

Barcelona’s concern is shaped partly by the departure of Dro Fernandez. His clause stood at €6m when he chose to leave for Paris Saint-Germain, prompting reports that the Catalan club had revised the way it protected leading academy and reserve-team prospects.

The cases of Hamza, Espart and Farinas suggest that the new policy still requires individual contracts to be updated before another club finds an inviting number.

There is nothing wrong with Barcelona’s decision to reward and protect three emerging players. The awkward part is the timing. Espart and Farinas received first-team status, valuable squad numbers and greater exposure while their old clauses remained under review. After the Dro episode, the club have finally learned to look for the open door. They now need to close it before someone else walks through.