Objective Nolito: Barça still plan to make move for Celta Vigo forward

Objective Nolito: Barça still plan to make move for Celta Vigo forward

His name passed relatively unnoticed during Robert Fernandez’s press conference on Thursday, but Nolito is still on Barcelona’s radar. First team manager Luis Enrique still wants the Celta Vigo forward as he looks to to keep the club competing at the top level. 

Nolito was the Catalan club’s top target in January, but the numbers on the table weren’t feasible at that time. The club preferred to be prudent and not spend the 18 million euro release clause. The economic situation at the time meant it would have been a risk to do the deal. 

Now, however, things are much more favourable. Barça are close to ending the 2015-16 financial year and starting the 2016-17 cycle with a new, more favourable budget. Unlike in winter, Nolito’s name is now met with a much more more positive reaction at Camp Nou’s offices. 

The board have realised that the forward, who spent three years at Barça B and has worked with Luis Enrique at two clubs, is a priority for the manager and the construction of next season’s squad should begin with the signing of Nolito. 

At one point, some directors doubted the idea of signing a player who was close to 30 (he will turn 30 in October), but the ‘age factor’ is not so important now. In the winter, Barça made a move on loan, in exchange for three million euros, but Celta rejected the offer. 

In addition, Nolito could be one of the attacking pillars of the Spain side at the European Championships this summer. 

“In January, we tried to sign [Nolito],” sporting director Robert admitted in Thursday, “but in the end, for motives which you know, we couldn’t make the deal.”

And when it came to talking about bringing the deal back to life, things were left in the air. “At the moment I can’t confirm or deny anything.” But he gave a clue: “Talking about players can prejudice deals. He has a contract with Celta and we have all the respect in the world for him and for Celta.” 

Nolito is currently with the Spain squad preparing for Euro 2016. His contract with Celta is the same as January. Despite the club’s attempts to renew his terms (and raise his clause to 30 million euros), the forward has not signed anything. 

In this sense, the path is marked out. Barça can be clear on the numbers of the operation: 18 million euros. Celta don’t want to sell him for less and will not negotiate. Pay the clause or he doesn’t come.