The fight between goalkeeper Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas (32) and Barça has come to an end, as expected: the captain, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, will not renew for the Blaugrana club and has already signed by Kiel by 2025, as communicated to the entity. Although it is very likely that Pérez de Vargas will leave Barça earlier, in June 2024.
As a consequence-retaliation for not renewing, the coaching staff has stripped him of the captain’s armband. His replacement will be Dika Mem, who will form the team of captains with Aitor Ariño as second, Tim N’Guessan and Blasz Janc.
The future goodbye of the captain and dressing room benchmark coincides with the casualties of Luka Cindric -terminated his contract a year earlier to lower wages-, and Ludo Fàbregas -he did not accept the Blaugrana offer either, to go to Veszprém-.
For this season, the club has signed the pivots Jaime Gallego (Torrelavega) and Javi Rodríguez (Logroño) as substitutes for Fàbregas.
The conflict between Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas and Barça broke out at the end of May, a few days before the final four in Cologne, when the goalkeeper let the club know that he had a tempting offer from Kiel. The man from Toledo, at Barça since he was a child (he arrived in 2007, signed by Xavi Pascual) and in the first team since 2009, ends his contract in 2025.
He asked Barça to renew – it was his priority – but he was aware that “the club’s situation was not ideal” – he admitted in an interview with La Vanguardia before traveling to Cologne, due to the “new reality” of the cuts in the section and throughout the club. “They are strategic plans and we must adapt,” he acknowledged.
The two parties were summoned to speak, but the handball management took their time. The proposal could not be more disappointing for Gonzalo: a renewal for 2-3 years but with the same economic conditions, which he considers out of the market, well below his category, his merits and his career in the club .
Barça was not thinking of increasing his salary, following the policy of cuts. Joan Marín, Barça’s handball sports coordinator, was explicit: “We cannot have all or a large part of the money in the goal,” he said in June, after the Final four loss in the semifinal with Magdeburg.
Faced with Barça’s refusal to improve his economic conditions, Gonzalo has looked after him and his future (he is 32 years old and is in his best sporting moment) and has agreed to Kiel. In principle, he will leave in 2025, when he ends his contract, but it is likely that he will leave before, since that way Barça can make a profit. His termination clause is 6 million euros, which the two clubs should negotiate.
The coach himself, Carlos Ortega, expressed his understanding with Pérez de Vargas if he decided to leave: “I understand that he would like to stay, but he has to look out for his economic well-being; If he has a fantastic offer and the club cannot match it, I fully understand why he thinks about leaving, ”said the coach in Cologne last June.
In statements provided by FC Barcelona, ??Pérez de Vargas reaffirmed his involvement with the club: “I have made a professional decision, very mature and hard to take, and I know that it has consequences such as no longer being the captain of this team. Respect and I accept this decision of the coaching staff. For me it has been an honor to be the captain. My commitment to the team from now on will be stronger, if possible, and I will work just as hard to achieve the collective goals. My teammates and the staff coach know that they have me to help them with everything they need”, commented the ex-captain.
