Joan García will star in an unusual g: only 4 more like this at Barça

The FC Barcelona is getting closer to formalizing the g of the 24-year-old Catalan goalkeeper, Joan García. The player from Sallent de Llobregat will be the first summer addition to the Blaugrana team, and he will do so in an unusual way: the Culé team has had to pay his release clause, valued at 25 'kilos', due to the intransigence of RCD Espanyol to negotiate for a lower amount.

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In this sense, it will be only the fifth time in its history that Barça signs a player by paying his clause. Next, we review the other four cases in which the Catalan team resorted to the so-called 'clausulazo' to add a new asset to its ranks.

Rivaldo (1997): The first Blaugrana 'clausulazo'

The first case dates back to 1997. At that time, Barcelona, during the summer market of the 1997-98 season, paid Deportivo La Coruña a total of 4,000 million pesetas, equivalent to about 24 M€ approximately today.

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A stellar addition, that of Rivaldo, who arrived in a window where players such as Sonny Anderson (AS Monaco), Michael Reiziger and Christophe Dugarry (AC Milan), among others, also landed at the Catalan club.

Rivaldo's adventure at Barça lasted for five seasons, in which he scored a total of 130 goals and 47 assists in 235 matches. During his time as a Blaugrana, he won the following awards:

1. 2 Leagues
2. 1 Copa del Rey
3. 1 Spanish Super Cup
4. 1 European Super Cup

Seydou Keita (2008): A reliable bet for the midfield

The second case occurred almost a decade later, in 2008. Barcelona paid the 14 M€ stipulated in the release clause of the Malian midfielder Seydou Keita, 28 years old, who was playing for Sevilla at the time.

Seydou Keita in a FC Barcelona match

Keita landed at the Camp Nou in a market that also brought names like Dani Alves (Sevilla), Aleksandr Hleb (Arsenal) and Martín Cáceres (Villarreal CF). As a Culé, he played 188 games, scoring 22 goals and providing 13 assists. In addition, he raised:

1. 3 Leagues
2. 3 Spanish Super Cups
3. 2 Champions League
4. 2 European Super Cups
5. 2 Copas del Rey
6. 2 Club World Cups

Clément Lenglet (2018): Another operation with Sevilla

To appreciate the third case, we have to move to another decade later. In 2018, the team from the Ciudad Condal once again knocked on the door of the Hispalis to take one of their players, this time to acquire the services of the French defender Clément Lenglet.

The Blaugrana team paid 35 'kilos' for him in a transfer window that also brought Malcom (Bordeaux), Arthur Melo (Grêmio) and Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich), to mention a few.

Clément Lenglet in a FC Barcelona match

The player from Beauvais played a total of 160 matches as a Culé, in which he scored seven goals and provided three assists. In of titles, he won:

1. 1 League
2. 1 Copa del Rey
3. 1 Spanish Super Cup

Antoine Griezmann (2019): The most expensive transfer by clause

The most expensive 'clausulazo' in the history of Barcelona closes this list. In 2019, Barça paid the 120 million euros of the release clause of Antoine Griezmann, who was then playing for Atlético de Madrid. It was a very busy incorporation window, with arrivals such as Frenkie de Jong (Ajax), Neto Murara (Valencia CF) and a very young Pedri González (UD Las Palmas).

Unfortunately, 'Grizou's' adventure as a Culé did not live up to expectations. The Frenchman only stayed at the club for two seasons, playing 102 matches, scoring 35 goals and providing 17 assists. Although his numbers were not bad, his impact did not justify the huge investment.

Antoine Griezmann in a match with FC Barcelona

In of distinctions, he only won one Copa del Rey in 2021. This is how one of the most irregular and, perhaps, disappointing spells of a player for the Blaugrana shirt closed, without being able to regularly show the level that he has shown - and still shows - with Atlético de Madrid.