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Barcelona president takes firm stance on llaix renewal

By Ernesto Hernandez

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta attends the official presentation of newly signed Dutch forward Memphis Depay (not seen) by the Spanish football club at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on July 22, 2021. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta attends the official presentation of newly signed Dutch forward Memphis Depay (not seen) by the Spanish football club at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on July 22, 2021. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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EIBAR, SPAIN – MAY 22: Ilaix Moriba of FC Barcelona duels for the ball with Rober Correa of SD Eibar during the La Liga Santander match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on May 22, 2021 in Eibar, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
EIBAR, SPAIN – MAY 22: Ilaix Moriba of FC Barcelona duels for the ball with Rober Correa of SD Eibar during the La Liga Santander match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on May 22, 2021 in Eibar, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) /

The situation between Barcelona and Ilaix Moriba looks bleak

Barcelona president Joan Laporta was asked a number of things during the unveiling of the club’s new right-back, Emerson Royal. Among them was the current situation regarding midfielder Ilaix Moriba.

Laporta was very blunt about Ilaix and used it as an opportunity to issue one final ultimatum.

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“The Ilaix case cannot be repeated,” Laporta said. “For a player formed in-house to take advantage of the fact he has one year left on his contract to force this situation cannot happen. It is a situation we cannot accept and with what’s happening we are sending a message. The player, if in the end he does not renew, he knows he has other solutions.”

Barcelona are in a financial mess — of their own doing — and therefore cannot commit to the wages Ilaix’s representatives are demanding. With Laporta asking veteran players to take a pay cut, it would be hypocritical to then significantly increase the wages of a player who only made his first team debut last season.

The Catalans have made their final offer to Ilaix and now it is up to him and his camp to decide whether they accept the terms or not.

The club believes the player’s camp is using the situation to leverage their negotiations with Chelsea who are rumored to be after Ilaix. The Premier League side is apparently offering the 18-year-old a significant salary increase which Barcelona cannot match.

Unlike the previous board, Laporta appears adamant they will not be taken advantage of by a player. Caving in and giving a player what they want is what got Barcelona in the mess they find themselves in now.

Until his situation is resolve, Ilaix will not feature for Barça B or the first team. Due to the contract dispute, he’s training with the B team but is not playing in any of the preseason matches.

As it stands, the prospect of him agreeing to an extension seems remote. If that is the case, Barcelona are prepared to move him rather than risk losing him on a free once his deal expires.

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“If you do not want to renew, we have other solutions,” Laporta said. “What we don’t want are players made at La Masia who don’t want to renew. He’s a player we’ve given opportunities, but the club is above all. I would like you [Moriba] to think again.”

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