It seems like every other week that a new contract is given out at Barcelona.
Thing is, it’s always to the wrong person.
As of right now, Dani Alves only has 18 months left on his contract and Thiago Alcantara’s situation is even worse. His contract runs out in the summer of 2011 unless he is promoted to the first team – in January.
Yet the new contracts are handed out to the players who are already on long-term deals.
Just before Christmas, FC Barcelona announced the contract extensions of Bojan and Sergio Busquets.
Fair enough, I thought to myself. Busquets is now a vital member of the first team so he deserved a pay rise, and Bojan had been subject of a few rumours linking him with a move away, so his contract was meant to quash those rumours.
However, isn’t Alves an important member of the first team? And hasn’t he been the subject of a few rumours linking him with other teams?
It’s a mystery why his situation hasn’t been resolved. Though, perhaps Thiago is an even bigger mystery.
Against Levante, Thiago came on for 40 minutes, and in my opinion, was the third best Barca player on the pitch (behind Iniesta and Pedro). His dribbling was flawless, and his passes almost always caused problems for the opposition.
And yet Barca are willing to put his future down to chance? Hopefully, he stays despite the allure of first team football in the EPL convincing him otherwise?
Not good enough. We were lucky not to be affected by the loss of Fabregas, as we had players like Messi coming through the system around the same time. How can put Barca put its future down to luck? What should happen is that Rosell & his administration offer Thiago and Alves new contracts; long-term contracts, and for Thiago, the guarantee of more first team football. Or else, I fear a certain Mr Wenger may be in contact soon!