Barca looking into Douglas deal?

It’s been claimed that Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu wants to get to the bottom of the circumstances around the signing of Douglas.

AS cites a report from SER that says Bartomeu is looking into the transfer amid allegations Barca hugely overpaid for the Sao Paulo right-back.

It’s noted that Mundo Deportivo deny any investigation is on-going but AS claims the involvement of a confidant of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, Albert Valentin, is having his role in the transfer questioned.

Douglas has barely played for Barca since making the move with AS noting a right-back was prioritised over the summer when it appeared Dani Alves was to leave Camp Nou.

Alves instead stayed and has been Luis Enrique’s first choice, over Douglas and Martin Montoya, who looks set to leave in January.

It’s alleged that Valentin was the main conduit for the transfer and with Douglas’ rights having been part-owned by an agency, the price was inflated so the agency could make a bigger profit.

Suggestions the father of Neymar was involved in the deal have been denied but Douglas’ €12m fee is now considered high for a player who had relatively little experience.

The Sao Paulo President went so far as to boast about the amount of money Barca were paying for the player before the transfer was completed.

Valentin worked with an intermediary on the transfer, it is claimed, having previously been close to losing his job at the club.

It’s said that former President Sandro Rosell wanted to fire Valentin but Zubizarreta said that if Valentin is let go, he would resign his position. Valentin was duly kept on.

Bartomeu is now looking into the transfer, it’s alleged, and there have previously been reports that Valentin is too close to another agency.

Tags Bartomeu Douglas
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