The Catalan club bought the 18-year-old Argentinean and guaranteed no one would buy him out.
After the victory of the Argentina national team at the 2022 World Cup, the demand for players from this country will undoubtedly increase. Scouts of the top European clubs have closely followed the most talented Argentinean youth. In Qatar, Lionel Messi and the company reminded the world of their country's football market. Even a popular thing will benefit from good advertising.
The most gifted Argentines will also be attracted by Barcelona, where they hope to find a second Leo. For example, according to Marca, the Catalan club is fighting Real Madrid for 16-year-old Vélez Sarsfield winger Gianluca Prestianni. In the homeland of the guy, of course, they have already nicknamed the "new Messi" - it is easier to sell valuable goods in a beautiful wrapper.
Meanwhile, Barcelona bought the 18-year-old forward of the Argentine Ferro Lucas Roman. The deal amounted to only €1.2 million (another €3.5 million was written as bonuses), and the newcomer signed a contract for three and a half years. The release clause is striking in the agreement between Barça and Roman. Those wishing to buy the rights to Lucas will have to pay € 400 million. It is clear that any club seeks to insure, but such an amount for a no-name is beyond fantasy! The guy agreed that until the summer of 2026, he would not leave the Catalan club of his own free will, even if he received a very lucrative offer. Or the Argentine, in a short time, should reach the level of Kylian Mbappe.
By the way, Roman's representative is Hernan Berman, the agent of ex-Zenith players Sebastian Driussi, Matthias Kranevitter, and Orenburg midfielder Gabriel Florentin. Who will be happy if you can sell Lucas for € 400 million! But first, the Barcelona rookie must prove himself in the blue garnet farm club, where the Argentinean will start his European career.
Roman has a modest experience of playing professionally. In the 2022 season, he played 27 matches in the second division of the Argentine Championship (based on 18), in which he scored three goals and made one assist.
He acted in different positions: right-winger, second-striker, and attacking midfielder. Most likely, Lucas was recommended to the Catalans by former Barcelona player Javier Mascherano, who heads the Argentina youth team. He invited the forward "Ferro" to his team and got to know him better. Roman also volunteered for the youth teams of Argentina. There he worked with another famous Argentine ex-football player - Pablo Aimar.
Lucas is a mobile and creative offensive player. He was short, fast, and agile, for which he received the nickname Pocho. With technique and stroke, complete order. Roman likes to play on the right and, from there, move to the center to threaten the goal with his strong left foot. Well, just like Messi! It might be great to hit from afar. Scouts also note the leadership qualities of the newcomer to Barcelona.
Former coach of the Catalan club Oscar Hernandez Romero, who works with Mascherano in Argentina, commented on the transfer of Roman in an interview with Cadena SER: "This is an interesting signing. Lucas is a winger or attacking midfielder. He's swift, technical, he shoots well from outside the box."
Roman was going to be signed by AC Milan and Argentina's top clubs. Barça outstripped them and everyone else, whom the media did not write about, as applicants for Lucas. Now picking up the Argentine costs not €1.2 million, but €400 million.
However, Roman is by no means the first young player in whose contract Barcelona prescribed crazy release clauses. Pedri, Gavi, Ansu Fati, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kunde, and Ferran Torres were reported to have ransoms totaling €1 billion! But they, unlike the Argentineans, have already shown themselves at the base of the blue garnet.
20.01.2023