Clément Lenglet has become an ownerless problem. Neither Barça nor Atlético want to take responsibility for him, but the hot potato will end up exploding in Hansi Flick's hands, the new culé coach, if it's not solved soon.
Cholo Simeone is very interested in the French center-back, whom he has enjoyed on loan over the past year. But Atlético doesn't want to pay a single euro for him. He either arrives for free or doesn't arrive at all.
Atlético hopes Barça will give Lenglet away
From the Metropolitano, they're waiting for Barça to get tired and end up giving him away. Just like what happened with David Villa, Luis Suárez, or Memphis Depay. But in Camp Nou offices, they're not on board: they want to get some money no matter what.
Lenglet was loaned this season to Atlético de Madrid after an unremarkable stint in the Premier League. With Simeone, his performance has been more than acceptable, to the point that Didier Deschamps has brought him back to the French national team.
With Simeone, he has played 34 matches, 32 as a starter, which confirms that for the Argentine coach, he's a more than interesting player.
Lenglet's salary scares off offers
Lenglet has two years left on his contract as a Barça player. His "problem" is that he earns €16 million per year, and nobody wants to take on such a high salary. Not even Barça, who still need to free up payroll.
That's what Atlético is holding on to, hoping to enjoy Lenglet at zero cost. Simply taking advantage of Barça's need to save on his salary.
The Argentine coach sees him as a useful player for the future and has asked for him to stay in the squad. The problem is that the center-back doesn't want to go out on loan again.
He's already tired of moving from one place to another. He wants a definitive exit, and if possible, to stay in Madrid, even better.
This is where the war of attrition between clubs begins. Atlético has told Barça's board that they'd only keep Lenglet if he arrives for free. Not a single euro for the transfer, and much less for his salary.
Barça needs to free up payroll
At the Metropolitano, they're not willing to pay a single cent for him. Meanwhile, Barça, in desperate need of income, has set a price for the player and hopes that an offer will come from England, Arabia, or even Türkiye. In the meantime, they're putting any deal with the colchoneros on hold.
This leaves Hansi Flick in an uncomfortable position. He could find himself with Lenglet back for preseason, with no place in the team, no market, and no motivation. He's not the type of center-back the German coach is looking for, but if no sale happens, he'll have to deal with it.
Barça is playing with the hope that some club will take the bait. His performance has been acceptable in a Champions Atlético, and they hope that will help move the player for a few million. But if that doesn't happen, and Atlético stands firm, the operation will become stuck.
Simeone, who never misses a trick, has already washed his hands of the problem. Now the ball is in Flick's court. Simeone hopes that Barça will get tired and send Lenglet over wrapped like a gift.