Racing Santander to Sue Barça Over 'Dodgy' Pablo Torre Mallorca Deal

Racing Cry Foul Over Barcelona’s Pablo Torre Transfer Tactics

Racing Santander have decided to take legal action against Barcelona over what they’re calling a deliberate ploy to dodge paying them money owed from Pablo Torre’s summer transfer to Mallorca.

The Cantabrian club are absolutely fuming, and they’ve got the paperwork ready to file a formal complaint with La Liga over what looks like some proper creative accounting from the Catalan giants.

The Numbers Game

Here’s where it gets interesting:

• Racing originally sold Torre to Barcelona for €5 million
• Barcelona then sold Torre to Mallorca for €4.95 million
• The original deal included a sell-on clause for Racing
• But crucially, this clause only activates for sales above €5 million

Racing’s president Manuel Higuera didn’t mince his words at the club’s General Shareholders’ Meeting, suggesting the transfer was “made to avoid paying Racing what we’re entitled to.”

The Smoking Gun?

What’s really got Racing’s back up is that Barcelona apparently valued Torre at €10 million in the same deal - that’s the buyback clause they negotiated with Mallorca.

So on one hand, Barça are saying Torre is worth just under €5 million (conveniently dodging the sell-on clause), while simultaneously setting a buyback option at double that amount. Bit of a liberty, innit?

Higuera insists he’s not looking for beef with the Blaugrana, but he’s determined to “defend the interests of my club” and fight for what Racing believe they’re rightfully owed.

This has all the makings of a proper transfer barney. Barcelona, who aren’t exactly flush with cash these days, might have been a bit too clever for their own good if Racing’s complaint gets traction with La Liga authorities.

One to watch as the Cantabrians take on the Catalan big boys in what could be a right old Barney Rubble over this Torre transfer saga.