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Barcelona chief slams Manchester City for paying £50million to sign Ederson from Benfica

The Spanish club have come under fire for failing to adequately replace Neymar after he moved to Paris Saint-Germain

BARCELONA director Albert Soler has slammed Manchester City for their frivolous spending during the transfer window.

Soler is just one of many Barca chiefs heavily criticised in the Spanish press for his club's lack of transfer activity on deadline day.

 Albert Soler has criticised Manchester City over their transfer dealings
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Albert Soler has criticised Manchester City over their transfer dealingsCredit: EPA
 Mundo Deportivo slammed Barcelona chiefs for failing to sign Philippe Coutinho
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Mundo Deportivo slammed Barcelona chiefs for failing to sign Philippe Coutinho

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In comparison, City have spent big this summer, including the signing Ederson from Benfica in a record fee for a goalkeeper.

During an broad-ranging press conference held in respond to the media firestorm the Catalan's have received, he said: "If Robert [Fernandez, fellow director] and I sat here and announced we signed 2 players for €270m, we'd have crossed the line and we'd have to resign.

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"It's reached the stage where one club paid 50 million for a goalkeeper. We're relieved that UEFA are opening investigations.

"We're not going to enter into a market which is has gone way out of control."

Soler also claimed that he did not know that Neymar had intentions of leaving until mid-July, meaning the club did not have much time to replace him.

 Barca wanted Coutinho as a direct replacement for Neymar
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Barca wanted Coutinho as a direct replacement for NeymarCredit: AFP

He said: "I have a message that tells me PSG wanted Neymar on July 19. Luckily, WhatsApps have dates. The interest was not in January or March, but on July 19.

"The rumours started at the end of July. Both the President and I didn't know he'd leave prior to that.

He added: "We immediately got to work once we learnt about Neymar going to PSG, but he's a very, very, very difficult player to replace.

 Coutinho was desperate to make the move to the Nou Camp after handing in a transfer request
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Coutinho was desperate to make the move to the Nou Camp after handing in a transfer requestCredit: AP:Associated Press


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"Issue isn't the £198m, it's that Neymar is no longer with us. We'd like him to still be here. Whoever says otherwise is lying.

"Release clauses are an added handicap for Spanish clubs. We should all play with the same rules."

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