Osasuna's Braulio drops transfer hints with Barça set to pocket a tidy sum
Osasuna sporting director Braulio Vázquez has cryptically hinted at a January transfer move for Las Palmas defender Mika Marmol, with Barcelona due 50% of any fee.
Osasuna sporting director Braulio Vázquez appears to be plotting another January transfer coup, with Barcelona potentially in line for an unexpected financial boost.
Javi Galán already in the bag
The Pamplona club has already made waves in the transfer market by securing Javi Galán from Atlético Madrid on Christmas Eve. Osasuna paid a modest €500,000 for the left-back, who was entering the final six months of his contract with Los Colchoneros. The deal includes a clause that would see Atlético receive double that amount if Osasuna remains in La Liga and Galán stays at the club.
The cryptic clues
But it seems Braulio isn’t finished with his winter business. In recent comments, he’s dropped several hints about another potential signing that’s got the rumour mill spinning:
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“We’re considering an operation for next year, but if we wait until then, we might not be able to do it. If we can do it now, even if it’s not what we need right now sportingly, we’ll do it because it secures our project for the future.”
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He added that Osasuna has “more possibilities” of signing this mystery player now rather than in the summer “because there would be other contenders who perhaps can’t do it right now.”
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Braulio later admitted: “Perhaps I’ve given too many clues.”
All signs point to Mika Marmol
These breadcrumbs appear to lead straight to Mika Marmol, Las Palmas’ 24-year-old left-footed centre-back whose contract expires this summer. The defender has caught the eye of several La Liga clubs including Girona and Espanyol.
Osasuna’s strategy seems clear - jump the queue by making a January move rather than competing with a host of suitors in the summer. The Navarrese club isn’t constrained by salary limits like some of their rivals, giving them a winter window advantage.
Barcelona’s unexpected windfall
Here’s where it gets interesting for the Blaugrana. Any transfer for Marmol would see Barcelona receive 50% of the fee due to a sell-on clause they inserted when selling the defender to Las Palmas. While his release clause stands at €10 million, his diminishing contract makes that figure unrealistic.
Las Palmas faces a proper dilemma - lose a key player mid-season for a reduced fee (half of which goes to Barça anyway), or lose him for nothing in the summer. Meanwhile, Marmol himself might fancy securing his top-flight future now rather than facing an awkward few months in Gran Canaria after refusing to extend his contract.
As they say in the East End, it’s all a bit of a Danny Dyer. The ball’s in Las Palmas’ court, but Barça will be keeping their mince pies on this one hoping for a cheeky bonus.