Jules Koundé understood and accepted with sportsmanship that he was the only one of the five new Barça signings who was left out of the squad to play the first league game against Rayo because the club had not released enough salary to sign him up. A week later the same circumstance forced him not to travel to San Sebastián, to stay at home and watch the second match on television. Although the French central defender continues to be sympathetic to Xavi and the coaching staff, it is also true that he feels disappointed with the management of the club.
Koundé and Xavi himself are very aware of the execution of the exit operation that should release some 20 million euros of wage bill to register the Frenchman. Barça has three open cases that seek the exit of Memphis, Aubameyang and Dest, to which two smaller files are added. That of Umtiti, who points to a transfer to Lecce with Barça assuming his file, and that of Braithwaite for whom Mallorca has asked, although the Dane has not stopped showing a certain disinterest throughout the summer in changing the scene.
Club sources assure that they are optimistic about being able to close at least two operations this week that will allow Koundé to be available next Sunday, August 28, to play against Valladolid at the Camp Nou. There is not much more margin. The transfer market closes on September 1 and the footballer also has a clause by which he would be released if the Barça club is not able to sign him up after having paid 50 million to Sevilla.
The players most likely to leave are Memphis and Aubameyang. The first has its economic conditions agreed with Juventus although he is pending the approval of the Italian club's economic commission, which is considering other options. Leaving Memphis would free up about $12 million, not enough to sign up Koundé. Different is the case of Aubameyang, who is close to leaving for Chelsea. Although he prioritized staying in Barcelona, he is aware that he has a lot of competition and has allowed himself to be loved by the English team, which offers him a three-year contract and very good economic conditions. The transfer could leave around 22 million fixed euros in the Blaugrana coffers, an amount that would allow the registration of Koundé.
Less simple is the case of Dest. His environment ensures that before the holidays Xavi told him that she was counting on him. But after the vacation period, the coach and also the sports area led by Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff advised him to look for a way out in order to release salary mass, reinforce the squad by signing Azpilicuata and register Koundé. Despite the turn of events that has seen him miss out on the squad for both league games to date, Dest has not received any convincing offers and wants to stay at Barcelona.
