Barcelona are unhappy with Jean-Clair Todibo’s decision to reject a £16 million move to Fulham after the La Liga giants were forced to accept a loan offer from Benfica instead, according to Mundo Deportivo.
While the cash-strapped Catalonians will be thrilled to get a couple of fringe players off an eye-watering wage bill on deadline day, the coffers at the Camp Nou are still a tad dry.
In an ideal world, Barcelona would have raked in about £30 million via the sales of Todibo and Rafinha Alcantara.
But while Rafinha’s £14 million release clause went untriggered, with the Brazilian instead joining PSG on a free transfer, Todibo departed on loan rather than sealing a big-money move to the Premier League.
Fulham had offered £16 million for the French centre-back.
But while Barcelona were desperate to push through the move, Todibo was less enamoured by the prospect of swapping Camp Nou for Craven Cottage.
Perhaps that had something to do with the fact that, after four league games, Scott Parker’s Fulham are bottom of the table without a single point.
Todibo, once described by 1990 Ballon D’Or winner Lothar Matthaus as the “best centre-back I’ve seen in a long time”, has instead joined Benfica on loan.
The Lisbon giants have an option, not an obligation, to sign Todibo permanently in two years’ time.
Barca may be waiting a while for that particular windfall – if it ever arrives.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
