Barcelona ordered to pay €8.5 million compensation to ex-midfielder for unfair termination

Josep Maria Bartomeu is rightly called the biggest villain in the history of FC Barcelona. During his tenure as the president of the club, he took the institution into neck-deep water on financial terms and debts.

So dire were the consequences that followed that the club still pay the price for his thoughtless decisions. Santi Ovalle brings to light another such repercussion of the former president’s decision that Barcelona are due to pay in today’s day.

According to the Journalist, the Blaugrana have been sentenced to pay Matheus Fernandes a compensation of €7.7 million for the termination of his contract, in addition to the €810,000 that they owed him for the salary negotiation.

While the smaller sum was already paid in October, the club are yet to shell out the larger installment.

The court adjudged the case as one of ‘unfair termination of contract’, thus making it a total compensation of €8.5 million. The Azulgranas will appeal the decision with the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia, and it remains to be seen what will come out of the repeal.

Matheus Fernandes joined Barcelona in January 2020 in a deal worth €10 million and signed for five years. As a defensive midfielder, he promised to be a long-term replacement for Sergio Busquets but it quickly became clear that he did not possess the calibre.

He was eventually not even presented in front of the fans and played just 17 minutes in his Barcelona career before having his contract terminated overnight. The big news came on June 29th under the presidency of Joan Laporta.

The player was very affected by the events that unfolded and threw red-hot accusations at the club following the same. His decision to approach the judicial system, thus, comes as no surprise.

“When I signed for them, they didn’t treat me like a footballer. I wanted to be treated equally. The other signings had a presentation and I didn’t. I was a bit upset. Seeing it from the outside I thought one thing but when I got there they treated me differently,” he said.

It remains to be seen how Barcelona’s appeal over the €8.5 million compensation payment turns out. As for Fernandes, he is currently plying his trade for Red Bull Bragantino, on loan from Palmeiras.