Barça’s dominance cannot halt talent drain, with Alexia Putellas among exits | OneFootball

Champions League holders Barcelona have endured a run of departures, Alexia Putellas among them, yet the club is sticking to its homegrown core and targeted recruitment. According to L'Équipe, that approach persists despite their sustained success in Europe.

Four months ago, Putellas bade farewell at Camp Nou, surrounded by her trophies, including four Champions Leagues and 10 Ligas, with emotions running high among player, media and hierarchy. She later reflected on the physical and mental toll, saying she had given everything and that the story had felt perfect.

Weeks on, she set out to embrace a new challenge with Michele Kang’s London City Lionesses. Her salary rose by about 30% to roughly €1.5m a year. Others have also left for the Women’s Super League, with Mapi Leon to London City and Ona Batlle to Arsenal this summer, plus Lucy Bronze to Chelsea and Mariona Caldentey to Arsenal in recent seasons.

Salma Paralluelo signed for OL Lyonnes in July. The outflow jars with a side that dominates its league and remains a force in Europe. After May’s 4-0 win over Lyon in the Champions League final, goalkeeper Cata Coll said money is not everything.

While Kang is seen as a saviour for OL in France, in Catalonia she is viewed more as a rival aiming to mirror Barcelona’s model by offering lavish salaries. Even so, the women’s team remains the club’s most dependable financial unit, posting a profit of more than €8m this year.

To sustain success, Barça are leaning on academy talent such as Clara Serrajordi, 18, and recent young recruits like Switzerland’s Sydney Schertenleib, 19. They have also added a marquee signing, Brazil’s Kerolin, 26, for a club record €1.2m. That blend has worked before.

Source: L'Équipe

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