FC Barcelona finally takes advantage of the Araújo-style signings again

FC Barcelona, faced with the challenging economic situation it is going through, has implemented an interesting strategy in the market: seeking emerging talents worldwide who have not yet had the opportunity to shine internationally in football. What is the objective? Simply put, the club is incorporating a young star into a project who, not having stood out in the First Division, should not have an excessive price tag. This move can prove beneficial in two ways: either utilizing the player for their own sporting benefit or finding them a new destination where, likely after going through La Masia, their value increases and they can be sold for more than the acquisition cost.

In this regard, the technical direction of the Catalan team has recently shown a significant success. The evidence? Cases of players like Pau Víctor, Mika Faye, and Gerard Martín, for whom the 'B' team made a bet last summer: one on loan (Víctor) and two permanently signed (Faye and Martín), who can now bring benefits to the team in various ways.

How can FC Barcelona benefit from these cases in the 2024/25 season?

Taking Pau Víctor as an example, Barcelona decided to acquire him in the summer 2024/25 market for a fee of 2.5 million euros, from Girona. After a brilliant 24/25 pre-season, during which he scored three goals in three matches, he earned a place in the first team as an impact player. If he continues to progress as a ruthless goal scorer, he will be a valuable addition to the club.

On the other hand, the case of Gerard Martín is also intriguing. The left-back, acquired in the 2023 summer market from Cornellà, after excelling as a starter in Barça Atlètic and the 24/25 pre-season, now seems poised to take the backup position behind Alejandro Balde on the left flank.

However, the flip side is the situation of Mika Faye, a defender with outstanding skills who showcased his talent in his spell with Barça Atlètic in the 2023/24 season. Despite this, it appears he will not fit into the first team's plans for the 2024/25 season, so a new footballing destination will be sought. The positive aspect? Barcelona, who initially paid just over a million euros for the Senegalese player, could now sell him for up to 10 million euros, with the potential to gain even more profits in the future if a future sale percentage clause is included.

Why are these signings 'in the Araújo style'?

These cases exemplify what has been termed as the 'Ronald Araújo formula', referring to one of the most notable instances in this kind of scenario. The defender arrived at Barça Atlètic from Boston River in 2018 for a modest investment of 1.7 million euros plus some variables that could extend the selling price up to around 5.2 million euros.

What has happened years later? Barcelona has been able to benefit both in sporting terms, showing that Araújo can be one of the best in the world at his peak, and economically, as his current market value stands at 70 million euros, which could mean a significant capital gain if the Catalan team decides to sell him.