BarcelonaArmored with a contract until 2026 and a clause only suitable for full portfolios (75 million euros), Espanyol assumes that it starts from a position of strength in terms of the negotiations that can be held this summer for to a hypothetical sale by Raúl de Tomás. In the club’s noble offices they are aware of the sporting potential of the striker, but a transfer is not ruled out, as long as an offer arrives at the height that allows the squad to be rebuilt with important names.
As ARA has learned, both the player and Espanyol assume that we will have to be patient and wait to see how a market that is still conditioned by covid develops to end up seeing where the tip is. People close to the striker assure ARA that no scenario is ruled out right now: neither the exit nor the continuity. “Everyone knows what Raúl has done at Espanyol and that there are no players of this profile in the world, but we need to be very calm and not go crazy,” they admit from their environment. “A lot of people have to agree on this type of operation, you have to be patient because it will go a long way,” they added.
So far, neither the agents nor the club have started any negotiations for the striker, who has never hidden that he is happy in Barcelona and Espanyol, circumstances that confirm both from his environment and from inside the white-and-dressing room. blue, where they would look forward to another season. “He has been involved since the first day he arrived. I hope the club can keep the most important players to grow “, said Sergi Darder a few days ago in an interview with ARA. “If I wasn’t good here, I wouldn’t score goals,” they added from their surroundings.
RDT has referred to its future since the concentration with the Spanish team. Speaking to TV3, the striker praised Diego Martínez – “We have a great coach”, he said – and admitted that he sees it as “very difficult” for any club to pay 70 million for him. “The club will talk to whoever comes, and if no one comes I have a contract with Espanyol and I will accept it anyway.” He also spoke on RAC1, where he confessed that “a lot can happen”. “Maybe Espanyol is interested in him leaving if they reach specific figures, maybe I’m interested or not. It’s a game of three that will be in the best for all three,” he said.
The future of the tip, as he himself admits, will largely depend on the evolution of a transfer market in which various factors will be involved. First of all, Espanyol’s negotiating position, which despite having been referring to the player’s clause for more than half a year (75 million euros), is quite likely to agree to negotiate for a lower figure. It should be noted that for Haaland, 21, about 75 million euros have just been paid to Borussia Dortmund. In a market still heavily conditioned by covid, it is unlikely that big transfers will take place this summer, at least in the League, where all clubs need to sell in order to sign. The representative agency that deals with RDT issues, Stellar Group, plans to meet in the coming days with Espanyol to determine from what figure the club would be willing to listen to offers by the striker, who prioritizes the sports project offered by the club that wants it.
Although the club says it has no financial need to sell the Madrid man, the truth is that Chen Yansheng would not look down on generating profits with him. It should be remembered, however, that Espanyol will not be able to keep everything it earns by RDT, as Benfica will be entitled to 20% of the capital gain generated by its transfer. In other words, if, for example, Espanyol decided to accept an offer of 50 million euros, 5.5 would correspond to Benfica, the equivalent of 20% of the 27.5 million that Espanyol would receive more. with respect to the 22.5 (variables included) that the Portuguese group agreed to pay in January 2020.
Pending the World Cup in Qatar
With the rest of the team already on holiday, the Madrid striker will still have a few days to prove to the market that it is worth making an effort for him. After closing the best season of his career in the First Division, with 17 goals, RDT wants to round off an excellent season in the individual field being the protagonist with the Spanish team, with whom he is scheduled to play four games in the League of Nations between this Thursday, June 2, and the 12th. Four key duels for the striker, who dreams of playing in the Qatar World Cup in November.
This appointment, marked in red on the RDT calendar, conditions the future of the tip, which does not want to lose prominence. “There are many factors to consider, we need to see which team can fit. Espanyol have their financial rights, we will try to make all the parties happy and satisfied for the coming season “, they point out from the footballer’s environment.
The list of clubs that could take on Espanyol’s financial demands (hardly below 40 or 50 million euros) is quite small. In Spain, it is limited to three options: Real Madrid (an option almost ruled out because he would not be a starter at the white club, which is thinking of other reinforcements), Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.
These two clubs are looking for a guaranteed striker, and RDT fits their profile perfectly. The big hurdle, however, would be economic. Simeone’s men will have to look for a replacement for Suárez, but they could only try to sign him if Espanyol makes their position more flexible. Lopetegi also likes the striker, who has already tried to keep him at Real Madrid, but knows that Sevilla, despite planning to do business with Diego Carlos and Koundé, will hardly be able to reach the figures requested by Espanyol. In the Premier League, the obstacle would not be economic, but sporting: after the bad experience at Benfica, RDT does not want to jeopardize its presence in the World Cup by going to a club where it may need another drastic adaptation process and where don’t insure him for minutes.
