Barcelona set to receive financial boost from the transfer of former La Masia midfielder | OneFootball

One advantage of having so many La Masia players develop at the club is the financial boost they can provide when they move elsewhere.

This financial boost does not just come in terms of transfer fees, but also training compensation that Barcelona are owed for developing the player.

Even when a player does not reach the Barça first team, the club can still benefit later if he develops elsewhere and moves for a significant fee.

Now, along those lines, the Blaugrana are set to receive a small but welcome financial boost from Sergi Altimira’s expected move to Sporting CP.

According to MARCA, the Portuguese club are close to signing Altimira from Real Betis in a deal worth a fixed €18 million, plus another €4 million in variables.

Altimira spent time at La Masia. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

If the transfer is completed, Barça would receive around €400,000 in training rights. It is not a huge figure, but in Barcelona’s current financial reality, every small income matters.

The club are working through a delicate summer, trying to balance registrations, transfers, salaries and squad planning before the new season.

La Masia still brings value

Altimira spent part of his development in Barcelona’s academy before leaving for Sabadell’s youth setup in the 2019/20 season.

He later joined Betis in 2023, despite Barça having shown interest in bringing him back.

Now, after establishing himself in La Liga, he looks set for a move to Portugal. RB Leipzig had also shown interest, but Sporting appear to be leading the race and are now close to reaching the finish line.

Seeing former academy players grow into valuable footballers elsewhere should always make Barcelona reflect.

La Masia continues to produce players with strong technical foundations and tactical education, qualities that remain attractive across Europe.

A small financial boost for Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

A small but useful payment

The €400,000 from training rights will not change Barça’s summer on its own. It will not fund a major signing or solve a salary issue.

It is still useful money, though, especially in a month when the club are trying to close operations before 30 June.

These smaller payments can help around the edges, although one would hope a club of Barcelona’s stature do not find themselves in such a scenario.

Barcelona’s priority will always be producing players for their own team. That is the club’s philosophy and the model that has brought so much success over the years.

However, not every talented La Masia player gets a chance in the first team, and such sales also matter.

Altimira’s likely move to Sporting is good news for the player and a minor financial win for Barça, and that is about as win-win as it gets.