Alba calls Barcelona out for attempted Inter transfer
FT Desk
- 9 Sept 2022 15:49 BST
- 3 min read
Jordi Alba was one of the players Barcelona tried to force out amid their financial crisis this summer, with Inter Milan heavily linked. Now the Spain left-back has spoken out.
Alba has been a loyal club servant for Barca, now in his 11th season at Camp Nou following his €14 million arrival from Valencia in 2012.
A first-team regular who started 30 La Liga games last season, the 33-year-old was nonetheless transfer listed with Barca attempting to balance the books having spent €160m on the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde this summer.
Lewandowski will cost Barcelona more than €100m 💰
Worth it, Barca fans? 🤔https://t.co/m759Gn3Ekc— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) September 5, 2022
Alba is one of the dressing room leaders at Barcelona, and he didn't take kindly to the suggestion the club were trying to sell him when speaking to Spanish sports daily, Marca.
Alba: 'not surprised by anything'
"Barcelona negotiating with Inter at the end of the transfer window?" he asked incredulously. "In the end everyone acts as they want. I'm someone who likes to be told things straight. You can always do better, but after everything I've seen I'm not surprised by anything."
Barca made concerted attempts to Frenkie de Jong off their books this summer, the Dutch midfielder, still owed €17m in deferred wages, digging his heels in to refuse a move to Manchester United and a reunification with his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.
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"I don't have to vindicate myself," the defender, who has won 15 major honours with Barca, continued. "I've been at the club for many years, I've gone through moments when I haven't played. I always try to be the best I can and now I haven't had those minutes."
Alex Balde has been Xavi's first-choice at left-back so far this season, with the 18-year-old restricting Alba to just one La Liga start with two appearances off the bench.
