Real Madrid has a serious problem in the center of its defense. It has three center-backs (Militão, Alaba, and Rüdiger) and only one available. Barça has six center-backs and Laporta has taken away from Florentino the center-back he preferred.
Jonathan Tah Rejects Florentino and Chooses Barça
Jonathan Tah has chosen Barça. Real Madrid would've offered him paradise. However, he preferred to be under Hansi Flick's orders at Barça.
Jonathan Tah ● Welcome to Barcelona 🔵🔴🇩🇪 Best Defensive Skills & Passes
Tah, 29 years old, is the trending center-back in the Bundesliga. He is the leader of Bayer Leverkusen's defense, the current champion. His contract ends next June 30, and he has decided to change scenery and start the Catalan adventure at Barça.
Since this summer Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona have been fighting for the German player's yes. Then Manchester City and Arsenal appeared.
Finally, it was Barça's offer, perhaps the least glamorous, that convinced him. Laporta has taken him from Florentino, and Tah is already Barça's first transfer for 2025-26.
His Club Was Asking for 80 Million for His Transfer, and He'll Arrive at Barça for Free
Barça tried to sign him last summer. Bayer raised the stakes by asking for 80 million, and Deco opted to wait until June 30, 2025. On that date, Tah will be free and can sign for Barça at zero cost.
Tah committed to Barça during Deco's trip to Leverkusen discovered by Jijantes. It was on December 6. There Deco agreed on the terms with the player's agent: a five-year contract and the financial conditions.
It will be a zero-cost transfer. Just like Gündogan, Christensen, Franck Kessié, or Íñigo Martínez.
Tah is a key player for Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. Besides being a regular in the German national team, Tah has played the 15 complete Bundesliga matchdays: 1,350 minutes.
Did Barça Need a Center-back?
Always as a starter. Moreover, despite being a defender, he has already scored two goals in the Bundesliga
None of the parties will offer details about the agreement. However, at Barça, there's satisfaction for closing a deal considered key for the future. Although it must be considered if the center-back position was the one Barça most needed to reinforce.
With Koundé in reserve, Araújo, Cubarsí, Íñigo Martínez, Christensen, and Eric García, it doesn't seem like an essential transfer. Although the decision was influenced by both his addition to Barça and the fact of preventing him from ending up transfer for Real Madrid.
Tah is a strong defender with tactical intelligence in ball distribution. He has a great personality and is very pleasing to Flick, as Íñigo Martínez also is.
Tah will sign for Barça and will have a contract with ascending conditions, like Lewandowski. That is, his salary will go from less to more, reaching its highest figure in the last year of the contract.
Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern, and Arsenal have offered him more money than Barça, but Tah was very interested in wearing the blaugrana jersey and inaugurating the new Camp Nou.
Which Center-backs Will Barça Sell?
Íñigo Martínez and Cubarsí are untouchable for Hansi Flick. The rest are for sale. Flick won't put any obstacles to the sale of Araújo, Christensen, or Eric García.
It seems these last two will be the players Barça puts on the market. Both arrived at zero cost, so whatever they leave will be a hundred percent profit.
Eric García is very likely to leave the club in this winter market. Christensen could leave next summer.
Jonathan Tah is already with Barça, and Deco boasts of having taken a transfer from Florentino Pérez that he was very interested in. Real Madrid needs a center-back with a face and eyes much more than Barça.