Zubi: “They said Neymar would cost 100m and we paid 57m”

Andoni Zubizarreta described the operation to bring Neymar to Camp Nou as being “quite extraordinary”.

On Tuesday, Barcelona’s Director of Sport Andoni Zubizarreta assessed the operation to bring Neymar to Camp Nou, the departures of Thiago and David Villa as well as the decision to loan Gerard Deulofeu to Everton and Rafinha to Celta.

Neymar: “It was an extraordinary operation, to sign a player like him for 57 million euros is quite a feat. I cannot disclose how the fee was split distributed due to the confidentiality clause signed by the four parties concerned. Looking at an operation such as this on a global scale and the expectations it would generate – some commentators priced such a deal at almost 100 million euros and we paid 57 million

Thiago Alcántara, poor business sense? or shrewd move? “I don’t really see it as being anything to do with business. He wants to evolve as a professional. We received 22 million euros, and will receive a further two million in commissions which I sure that Bayern will pay and another million in turnstile receipts from a friendly. The 25 million euros from Thiago’s sale is for Barcelona. It’s not a bad outcome considering the circumstances”.

Thiago’s retention clause: “Buy-out clauses give clubs some leeway to negotiate should a player put in a transfer request – it gives you a reference. At no point was the coach told whether he had to field the player or not”.

Deulofeu and Rafinha: “We have very high hopes for both of them. They will be competing regularly at the highest level and that will give us the chance to evaluate them before they return for the following season”.

Barça’s youth academy model: “Thiago has left us and Sergi Roberto will be drafted in to replace him. We have a lot more quality players than most other clubs have. We haven’t sold them or used them in part-exchange for other signings; we continue counting on them. They wouldn’t have been given minutes in the first team but it’s good that they continue playing and that they are involved in the game at a professional level. It’s not a fixed model, it can be adapted and transformed. It’s not the same as it was 10 years ago, nor will it be the same in 10 years’ time”.

New signings: “We haven’t set any deadlines; we have until midnight on August 31^st – there is plenty of time left. But we will not be signing a striker”.

Is the squad weaker or stronger? “We have an extraordinary squad; let’s hope we can add the finishing touches to it. The answer to your question can only be answered at the end of the season”.

Thiago Silva: “We don’t usually announce which players we are interested in signing – it’s not right to leak news about negotiations. We will try to build the strongest squad possible”.

Summer bargains, Callejón and Villa: “Both clubs are responsible for the operations they conduct and must explain their actions to the club members. In Villa’s case, we searched for the best possible solution for everyone involved”.