Barcelona's Summer Sell-Off Delayed Until 2026: Why No One Wants to Leave

The Great Stall: No One Wants to Go

Let me be clear — if you’re expecting a full-scale exodus at Barcelona this summer, you’ve been watching too many transfer rumors. The reality? It’s more of a slow-motion parade than an evacuation. Despite De Ko’s best efforts to offload players like Pau Víctor and Ansu Fati, the market simply isn’t responding. And with only two new signings confirmed so far, the club is running on fumes when it comes to revenue.

I’ve run the numbers through SportsCode — and trust me, even my clipboard has become skeptical.

Why Players Won’t Budge

Take Fermín: he’s got offers from clubs with better paychecks than our entire midfield budget. Yet he stays. Same goes for Óscar Mingueza — not even his name was on the exit list last week. And then there’s Jules Koundé — or rather, the idea of him leaving.

But here’s where it gets interesting: Arda Güler? Not even mentioned by fans yet. Meanwhile, Aymeric Laporte is still rumoured but not sold.

The truth? Nobody wants out unless they’re getting paid top dollar — which Barcelona ain’t offering.

The Real Problem: No Cash Flow = No Plan

Even with Alba gone and Araújo holding firm despite his €65M release clause dropping in July, no one sees an urgent need to sell now. That’s because De Ko isn’t chasing quick fixes; he wants strategic value over short-term cash grabs.

He knows that if we let go of young talents like Gavi or Fermín under pressure, we’ll look like we’ve given up on our project. But without selling key names this year? We won’t have funds to sign a proper number nine before Lewandowski leaves in 2024.

So yes — we’re postponing everything until 2026.

The 2026 Window: A FIFA World Cup Opportunity?

That timeline makes sense only if you consider international breaks post-World Cup as natural reset points. Imagine: all stars fresh after national duty; players open-minded about moves; agents willing to wait months for deals.

Plus, think about it — by 2026, we could already be looking at major exits from La Masia grads who’ve outgrown their roles here… but also those who haven’t proven they can lead yet.

It gives us time to assess who truly belongs in the system versus who needs space elsewhere.

And honestly? I respect that approach more than panic sales every June.