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FC Barcelona Reportedly Put Star Player Up For Sale With $87 Million Price Tag

Tom Sanderson

Contributor Jun 15, 2023,

07:00am EDT

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has put a price tag on one of his star players. 

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FC Barcelona have put an €80 million ($87 million) price tag on one of their star players, according to El Nacional.

Barca went to great lengths to sign Jules Kounde from Sevilla last summer. At one point in the transfer window, it appeared as though the Frenchman was set to join PremierPINC -1.2%League giants Chelsea before the Catalans made him sit tight until they had activated one of their financial levers.

• After this had been done, Barca tabled a €50 million ($54 million) offer to the Andalusians and that was that.

Kounde was immediately integrated into first team coach Xavi Hernandez's squad - although not in his preferred position of center back.

Despite his undoubted pedigree, Kounde failed to break up a partnership between Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo and has been made to fill in at right back.

Still, he played an integral role in a stingy back line that conceded the least goals in Europe's top five leagues and helped the Blaugrana achieve a first La Liga title under Xavi and a maiden Spanish top flight crown in four years.

• Towards the end of the season, however, Relevo reported that Kounde told Xavi he would be open to listening to offers from other clubs wishing to buy him, though the player later denied this.

Less than a month after that hiccup, El Nacional reports how president Joan Laporta has decided to put Kounde on the market for €80 million which would allow the club to recoup their outlay on him and also spin a profit.