Barcelona spend big in transfer market, still rake in £111m

The Catalan outfit have been on a roll this summer with former star Eric Abidal at the helm.

Barcelona were in the news during the last summer transfer window for all the wrong reasons. But, now they are making headlines for their street-smart business in the transfer market. The club have seen nine departures (including three on loan and one on a free) this time around, raking in £111m, which is no mean feat.

The Spanish outfit got rid of Gerard Deulofeu to Watford for £13m. Meanwhile, Lucas Digne (£18m), Yerry Mina (£28.5m) and Andre Gomes on loan (£2m), joined Everton. Other notable departures were, Aleix Vidal who went back to Sevilla for £7.6m and Brazilian Midfielder Paulinho made a £50m return back to China with Guangzhou Evergrande.

Since Neymar's departure, the La Liga giants have spent pretty heavily on the likes of Ousmane Dembele for £105m and Philippe Coutinho for £144m. These transfer values became hefty to maintain for the club.

To add to it, clubs in Spain also have a limitation on non-EU players.  Only three non-European players are allowed in every squad. Another factor behind the sale of Mina and Paulinho was to make way for Malcom, Arthur and Vidal.

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Arrivals and Departures:

According to the SPORT, the club was concerned with the ever-increasing wage bill and it became evident that manager Ernesto Valverde would have to adapt o a 'player in and out' policy. Club legend Andres Iniesta departed for Japan on a free, while the club also sanctioned loan moves for Douglas and goalkeeper Adrian Ortola.

The former Bilbao tactician is busy ahead of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday, when they take on Sevilla with all of the new arrivals wanting to be involved in the curtain-raiser for the new campaign.