By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
February 8 – Chelsea’s £50 million ($80 million) fee for Fernando Torres left European champions Barcelona “shocked”, with one club director today describing the Spaniard’s move from Liverpool as “overpriced”.
Raul Sanllehi said he did not expect such high amounts to be spent during the January transfer window and said his own club would never have been able to afford such extravagance.
As well as Torres, Chelsea signed David Luiz for £22 million ($35 million) from Benfica and Sanllehi said: “I was shocked by the amount spent especially in the winter time.
“I felt the amount was very high.”
In 2009, Barcelona paid €46 million (£39 million/$63 million) plus striker Samuel Eto’o for Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
But Sanllehi, who was involved in the failed bid to sign Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal last summer, said Torres, who scored 65 goals in 102 league games for Liverpool, should have cost as much as he did.
“I know Barcelona would not do that signing,” he said.
“We would not even consider it.”
Significantly, Barcelona’s losses last season were almost the same as Chelsea’s yet the only piece of business the Spanish champions did in the January window was signing PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Affelay for €3 million (£2.5 million/$4 million).
Such is their financial situation that they recently agreed on a commercial shirt sponsorship for the first time in their 111- year history.
In December, the club signed a record £125 million ($201 million) five-year, contract with the Qatar Foundation.
“Let’s not fool ourselves, we needed the money,” Sanllehi said. Barcelona’s only previous deal was with Unicef, the children’s charity.
Speaking to reporters at the annual assembly of the European Club Association in Geneva, Sanhelli said Chelsea’s January outlay had stunned everyone at a time when UEFA were encouraging clubs to tighten their belts with the advent of strict new rules.
“Of course we have a budget, but a budget is like a blanket,” he said.
“If you pull it up to your chin, you need your feet to stay warm.”
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