Three Barcelona players expected to leave the club as free-agents in the summer

With the New Year arriving, as many as seven FC Barcelona players have entered the final six months of their respective contracts.

The septet includes two club captains in Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto, along with Inaki Pena, Arnau Tenas, Memphis Depay, Marcos Alonso and Hector Bellerin. These players will now be able to negotiate with clubs of their desire over a pre-contract agreement for a summer move as a free agent.

Barcelona have to now take stock of the situation and make a decision on the players who they wish to retain and who they are willing to let go.

While doing so, the Blaugrana must factor in several things, including the role of the said player in the team, as well as their wages and the club’s Financial Fair Play issues. With that in mind, Barça Universal takes a look at the three possible candidates that the Catalan giants are unlikely to retain.

Memphis Depay

Starting off with the most obvious one, Memphis Depay’s time at Barcelona has run out and if possible, an exit would be sanctioned in January itself if not for circumstances. The Dutchman is no longer favoured by Xavi and has played just three matches so far this season.

Even though he finished as the Catalans’ top goalscorer in his debut season, Depay has fallen well down the pecking order over the past year.

The Blaugrana would be open to a sale this winter and there is interest in him as well. But Depay is not keen on leaving as he wishes to depart as a free agent in the summer, in hope of earning a bigger paycheck and signing-on bonus.

Hector Bellerin

Brought in as an emergency option to reinforce the right-back slot this past summer, Hector Bellerin has struggled to perform at the level expected of a Barcelona player.

Indeed, so far this season, the ex-Arsenal star has played just three times in La Liga and twice in the UEFA Champions League and has hardly looked convincing when on the pitch.

The former La Masia trainee returned to the club signing just a one-year contract on very low wages. Considering that Barcelona want to sign a new right-back and are also likely to renew the contract of Sergi Roberto, Bellerin’s second stint at his boyhood club will be short-lived.

Sergio Busquets

Barcelona see Inaki Pena and Arnau Tenas as the future of the goalkeeping department and are already working on their renewals. Marcos Alonso has also adapted very well and is earning an extension. It leaves Sergio Busquets as the most likely to depart at the end of the season.

Xavi has made it clear that he wishes for Busquets to remain at the club for another year. But the player is said to have decided to move on, although recent reports suggest that he might be willing to consider an extension.

Irrespective of that, though, Busquets’ future could come down to the club’s Financial Fair Play issues. Barça need to shed close to €200 million from their wage bill and renewing their highest earner could prove counterproductive to that objective.