Barcelona typically never sell their best players (excluding Neymar).
If they are willing to let someone leave it will either be because they are surplus to requirements or they don’t make the Nou Camp grade.
For most clubs ‘not making the Nou Camp grade’ means they will probably instantly become their biggest asset.
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“You wouldn’t believe it Roy, Barca just let me sign three of their players in the summer.”Getty - Contributor
In the past few years Everton have had a strange bond with the Spanish side in the transfer market, willing to take on any deadwood that might be on the market.
It all came to a head this summer when the football world was stifling laughter at the Toffees signing three of the perceived worst players at the Nou Camp and for a hefty investment too.
Spanish newspaper MARCA even called Everton a ‘luxury client’ in that they paid upwards of €50m for Lucas Digne, Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes.
The outlet went as far to say Barca should find a way of honouring the English club for taking the flops of their hands.
Has anyone told them Everton aren’t in the Champions League?
All very sarcastic indeed.
Digne has slotted in at left-back this season, making seven Premier League appearances, keeping two clean sheets and getting an assist against Huddersfield.
You can’t ask for that much more for a €20m Barcelona reject.
Mina and Gomes came in a double deal that left the Catalans blushing.
Barca’s loss Everton’s gainGetty - Contributor
Gomes was brought to the Nou Camp on the back of his impressive form at the Euros 2016 but he was cast as a complete failure almost from the off.
Not being able to displace any of the greatest midfield of a generation is understandable but MARCA readers voted him the worst signing of the season.
He was even booed by his own fans during a game against Atletico Madrid.
So when Everton said they would take him on loan and pay his wages in full Barcelona were happy to bite their hand off.
Unhappy timesEPA
Mina was a slightly different case.
They signed him as defensive cover in January, barely played him for six months then he had a great World Cup and Everton came in with a €30m bid.
While the executives in Catalonia might think they have done some excellent business getting rid of players on the peripheries, it has worked just as well for Everton.
Digne has already impressed and Gomes made his Everton debut in a win against Crystal Palace yesterday.
And despite being tackled by a ghost at one point Gomes received plaudits for his assured display.
Silva is notoriously bad at organising a defence but having Mina, returning from a prolonged injury break, he has several options at the back.
Loves a goal tooReuters
After previously bringing in Gerard Deulofeu initially in loan before making him permanent, which can be seen as a success, there was the Sandro Ramirez move which everyone at Goodison would rather not talk about.
Sandro went from Barcelona to Everton via Malaga and made a total of eight league appearances before being sent out to Sevilla on loan.
Not all Barca players are going to be stars.
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