Signing young players is big business in football these days, with all the big clubs in Europe scrambling to sign the best talent ahead of the competition.
Sometimes this produces moves you didn’t see happening, and Louie Barry’s move to Barcelona from West Bromwich Albion certainly falls into that category.
The 16-year-old swapped the Hawthorns for the Nou Camp this summer, adding fuel to the Barça-PSG feud in the process, becoming the latest young British talent to try and make their mark abroad.
That is yet to happen, though, with Menorca.info reporting cannot make his Barcelona debut as there are ‘problems’ with West Brom.
The website doesn’t explain what these problems are, but it’s pretty safe to assume it’s about Barça’s failure to pay for Barry this summer.
Earlier this month it was reported that West Brom were reporting the La Liga champions to FIFA over the move, as they hadn’t paid the relevant fees.
Sport explained that the Baggies think they’re owed £235,000 in compensation for development rights, but Barça were insisting they don’t have to pay until FIFA’s committee for the protection of minors sends them the relevant report.
Until they receive that, they claimed Barry isn’t officially a Barcelona player, and thus they don’t’ have to pay.
This was on the fourth of September with the report stating that it should ‘go through soon’.
It seems it’s yet to happen, though, and 17 days later, Barry is yet to make his Barcelona debut because of it.
