Analysis: The reasons behind Toral’s decision
Jon Toral and Sergi Samper
This is a translation of an analysis made by Marti Perarnau, a blogger who is a mainstay contributor for ‘Sport.es’. His blogs and tweets can be followed here and here respectively.
On July 1, Jon Miquel Toral will sign a contract with Arsenal. By then it would be 5 months since from the day he turned 16 (2 February 1995), and with his departure from the Barca youth system, the club will have lost one of its more promising talents. Toral is a sturdy kind of a player. He is not the classic type of a la Masia midfielder but a left-footed central midfielder with very defined qualities: firm, fast, resolute, tall (1.82 m), well-built (72 kg), robust and good in the air – profiles not normally found in Barca, more like Seydou Keita, but has a greater propensity for moving forward than playing defensively. Another unique technique he has is the ability to cushion the ball with his chest, as we’ve seen him doing that from a lobbed pass made 40 meter away, which he then controlled with his foot as softly as pudding.
He came to Barca in 2003, beginning with playing in the Benjamin A under the tutelage of Sergi Domenech. In this team he found someone who would be his dance partner for eight seasons: Sergi Samper, a midfielder with the magic touch in the mould of Xavi and Iniesta. The combination they have is phenomenal and it has catapulted their team, presently Barca Cadet, to levels similar to those of the ’87 generation (Messi, Pique, Cesc …). The media called this partnership the ‘Samper & Toral Limited Company’ but that alliance will end soon, one to the Emirates and the other to the Camp Nou.
Why is he leaving?
It is the will of the boy. Jon Miquel is a clever young man currently studying at year 4 ESO [Spain’s compulsory secondary education] with exceptional grades. It is his over-whelming desire to play in the Premiership. Contrary to what has been said, neither his mother (Sheila Harper), an Englishwoman, nor the rest of his family pushed him into that decision, but quite the opposite. None of them wanted to move to London but Jon Miquel is stubbornly adamant. He wants to play in the English Championship which, given his characteristics, fits him like a glove: a cross between Lampard and Keita.
Toral’s and Samper’s agent, Pere Guardiola, met with both a few months ago in light of the offer received from Arsenal for the two midfielders. Samper said he wants to stay, Toral said he wants to gain the experience. His determination [to leave] is resolute. The boy will now move to London on his own to continue his footballing career while his family remains here in Catalunya.
What is offered by Arsenal?
A professional contract with a salary between 25 and 35 times higher than what he would have received at Barca plus a substantial bonus tied to his first team debut. In addition he’ll get free accommodation, paid-for tuition fees, fully paid trips to London for the whole family, and more importantly, a well laid-out career roadmap designed specifically for him: In his first few weeks in London, Toral will train with the first team. After that he will play for the club’s under-18s while alternating with their reserve team. This plan calls for his promotion into the first team in the 2012-13 season when he turns 18, to be used in non-crucial games, and this is explained to him in person by Arsene Wenger himself.
What will Barca get in return?
Arsenal will pay Barca €500,000 in compensation it is entitled to for his foundation trainings. From an economic standpoint, Barca gets a high return on that deal. In his eight years as a canterano, Toral has only cost the club the taxi charges that ferried him to and from its training ground, in addition to the €30 meal provided to every canterano during matchdays. In exchange, it will have lost one of its most promising players.
Why not keep him?
In Spain, 16 years olds are not permitted to sign binding [professional] contracts. Therefore, any minor of this age is likely to be captured by an English club, which does not suffer this handicap. The only way to avoid the migration of a canterano is by offering him a sum of money to offset any offer, but the amounts put up by many English clubs are just preposterous that the club is just not prepared to match. Barca canteranos earns a small €250 per year allowance, and the first [non-binding youth] contract they sign when they reach 16 entitles them the customary €10,000 per year salary, some 25 to 35 times lower than what they would get at Arsenal. In cases such as these, Barca chooses to try to plead with them to think of their connection with the club or they just have to let the boy leave.
Why did Samper opt to stay?
Last Friday, Sergi Samper announced his decision to sign his first Barca [youth] contract. He did so after listening to the sports plan the club designed for him. In his path are not only Xavi and Iniesta, but also Thiago, Sergi Roberto, Rafinha, Babunski, Nando Quesada and Pol Calvet, at the very least. But he receives ample votes of confidence [from the club] because of his talent. Samper came to Barca when he was 6, and since then has neither known nor feel the colours of other clubs. He and Toral are the best of friends, always spending Sunday afternoons with him, but by Monday, that ‘Samper & Toral Limited Company’ will have passed into the history books.
yeah and what about ur great club trying to poach Aneke and Afobe from our club? they showed u the finger is another matter. now dont come with the tosh it never happened. it was clearly confirmed that Barca tried to take these players.
It's called 'keeping his options open'. Don't know if y'all know but Cesc is not loyal to Barca or Arsenal. Only last year he gave an interview to FouFourTwo magazine, praising Italian football, would love to play at San Siro blah blah blah. Which is a joke considering the state of Serie A. Anyways Cesc is no angel, maybe that can unite Barca and Arsenal fans instead of all this hating on each other!
Pedro is NOT a superstar outside of arrogant Barca!
FCB vs Cornella 3-0. Hat-trick de Sergi Canos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZyZOYRbXHk
FCB vs Cornella 3-0. Hat-trick de Sergi Canos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZyZOYRbXHk
FCB vs Cornella 3-0. Hat-trick de Sergi Canos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZyZOYRbXHk
FCB vs Cornella 3-0. Hat-trick de Sergi Canos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZyZOYRbXHk
FCB vs Cornella 3-0. Hat-trick de Sergi Canos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZyZOYRbXHk
FCB vs Cornella 3-0. Hat-trick de Sergi Canos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZyZOYRbXHk
because EPL > La Liga.
I dont like watching la liga if barca isn't playing (maybe RM, Valencia or Sevilla). but in EPL every game is stunning!
I present you Cesc #2
same mistake again, in 3-4 years they want to have him back and offer at least 40times more (20mil€)
As Pep said, anybody who does not want to stay can go. As far as I am concerned Cesc could stay where he is for many years. He says he wants to play at Barca but if Arsenal don’t sell him he will have to put up and shut up. Same as Toral. They may end up both at Real Madrid, they obviously love the cash more than the blaugrana shirt. Ask Xavi.
When Barca were dominating Arsenal at the Emirates in the first half, Arsenal supporters started booing. I remember a few years ago in Capello's first game as England manager, England actually started to pass the ball around (!) and Wembley started booing. Yes, ask Ronaldo – and David Beckham before him – if he's ever been subject to treatment akin to a 'murderer' from English fans.
'Passion' is an abstract concept in that it can't really be measured. Having been to games in both Spain and England, I don't really think you can say one country is more passionate than another; passion just manifests differently.
When Barca were dominating Arsenal at the Emirates in the first half, Arsenal supporters started booing. I remember a few years ago in Capello's first game as England manager, England actually started to pass the ball around (!) and Wembley started booing. Yes, ask Ronaldo – and David Beckham before him – if he's ever been subject to treatment akin to a 'murderer' from English fans.
'Passion' is an abstract concept in that it can't really be measured. Having been to games in both Spain and England, I don't really think you can say one country is more passionate than another; passion just manifests differently.
edit: Can you tell I recently wrote a paper on the sociological makeup of football fans over the past 20 years? Sorry for the essay!
"Stoke are an example to us of how we should play you guys. What's that? The snap of Messi's leg when Djourou smashes the little rodent into the sky."
How old are you?
The lifecycle of a professional footballer is short, it's even shorter if curtailed by injury on the field or off it. So one has to maximise the opportunity when it avails itself. Look at it objectively, if you procrastinate your ability to earn a living that will result in a secure life outside or after a football career, why reject the opportunity and also the opportunity to become what you capable of becoming at a much younger age, why should you be stoical and reject the opportunity. Talking money, so Toral will be earning 35 times Sampers Euro 350 per annum. Put this difference away until retirement day. Who's gonna be better off? Don't deny these young people the opportunity to shape their futures! So Arsenal, Wenger, Cesc or Toral critics, don't be selfish! If Toral was to have a 'rainy day', will you give him what Arsenal has offered him? We all know an opportunity comes but once in a lifetime, don't deny the Torals of the world this opportunity! Let's face it, this is opportunity in a lifetime, and Toral, like you and I, would want to grab the opportunity! Millions of us go through life without experiencing an opportunity that we'd always yearned for! Wish the young man well, and celebrate his opportunity as you would have had it been your child! You know, envy is the cause of 90% of the world's deaths. Let's fight this malaise! Bye the way, I simply love Barca football
Toral was 12 not 8 and Cesc was 11 and used to be hidden by his coach at his original club when the Barca scout came around. His coach knew if Cesc was seen by the Barca scouts he would be poached with a better offer.
Sure enough when he was finally spotted Cesc was poached by a club offering a better deal. Sound familar? Barca do it all over Catalonia every year poaching 10-13 year olds from third division academies then hype how great La Masia is and how Barca are so noble they would never go after a 16 year old. When Arsenal go after a 16 year old though thats horrible the kids to young.
Farcenal = 0 European titles.
Barcelona = 3 European titles.
Good night english scumbags.
Every Club steals from the lower leagues, thats common, if you didn't know that i feel sorry for you.
But what i tried to say and you didn't understand was that while barca talks to the club and family, Arsenal just go and write a contract with the player. All barcas youngster that they sign can leave whenever they want.
While Barcelona got one of the best Academys in the world, Arsenal decides to almost drop that and rather just take an allmost fullgrown talent and make it their own, now that is a difference
btw, cesc was at barca when he was 10 but he formally joined barca when he was 11.
Sorry for mixing up but i got my facts wrong he was 6 when he first saw barca play:-D
lol so u concede ur a lesser club than RM. Ty.
your problem is that you believe too much in goal.com…lolzzz..!!:D
Or respected journalist Sid Lowe, right?
The story on Messi is not entirely true. While playing for Newell's Old Boys he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficinecy. Primera division River Plate wanted the boy but they could not afford to make his medical payments. He was spotted by Rexach and with relatives in Catalonia a trial was arranged – obviously he impressed. The original deal with Barca was to fly and house his entire family as well as pay all his medical bills if he signed for Barca. To say he was rejected by other clubs was wrong. At no point in his youth career was Lionel Messi rejected by anyone. The Argentine clubs simply do not have the financial clout to pay for complex medical treatments.
English players in Arsenal's first 11 – Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott. Kieran Gibbs a left back is on the bench. All are English are Arsenal products. As for United, Rooney comes to mind and so does Giggs. What about Lampard at Chelsea?
arsenal
english team-2 english players
last 5 years-no trophies
.There youth academy isn't actually that good either they buy young players they don't produce them. Plyers like clichy, fabregas and van persie were signed at a young age or just stole from somebody else's academy. The only good players they've produced by themselves in the last 12 years have been ashley cole and jack wilshere. The rest were all another clubs once.
All of you Barca idiots make me sick. You do the same as we do but because this time again it is one of your promising kids you are getting all childish about things. You remind me of a dude who doesn't treat his woman with care & respect but still expects her to stay by his side when a better man for her is interested in her.
And for those who are saying that you will kill us on March 8th – I prefer to wait and see. I just hope we don't come there with 5 injured regular team players again. If you think that what happened last season will automatically happen again then I'm afraid you are deluded. This will be Arshavin's return to full form.
All your best players in history have been foreign or 'Stolen' from other clubs – Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Figo, Etoo, Cruyff, Ronaldo, Messi, Koeman, Henry, Hleb
It's payback BABY!!
go get a dictionary…look up for these words.
tapping
youth
transfer
first team
stupid and dumbass
If you can't understand that this is exactly the same then you are deluded. Barca agrees to compensate for the scolarship fees as did arsenal for Toral. The issue here is that you seem more upset about other clubs being able to do what you do to them. Messi came from Argentina didn't he? Newell's OB if I remember well at the age of 12… Barca fans just chose to believe that he would have never made it without the kindness of the club because he would still be a nobody without the growth hormone injections he needed… Do you seriously belive that fairy tale? Out of the 250 kids at La Masia , how many were born in Barcelona or even Catalonia?
Tut-tut. Me thinks they were poached form their local team at an early age. Hehe!
To be fair, all English internationals playing at AFC needs to be english. Bit too clever for you???
And what about the Senegalese and South American players in your academy? I'm sure barca offer FAR more money than any of those Senegalese kids would have got back home. Same too for the S.American kids.
Hypocrite.
We will once you stop having idiots like Nero spouting lies and hypocritical statements.
1. Why don't you ask Messi himself? I mean, just check, he did say this quite few times himself in interviews. I guess he has no idea what he is talking about, right? He must be a moron believing that this fairy tale happened to him…
2. We search for those kids in much smaller clubs, schools, etc- Arsenal goes to La Masia. Yeah, that's what I call "scouting". Taking already established young talents, players already in the know. Pathetic. Why don't you emply our scouts- that would work better, there would be no hard feelings etc…
3. Let's count Spanish players in La Masia and than count English players in Arsenal.
4. Win something. You steal our players, claim they come from your academy and than you can't win anything even with them. Jesus.
1. Why don't you ask Messi himself? I mean, just check, he did say this quite few times himself in interviews. I guess he has no idea what he is talking about, right? He must be a moron believing that this fairy tale happened to him…
2. We search for those kids in much smaller clubs, schools, etc- Arsenal goes to La Masia. Yeah, that's what I call "scouting". Taking already established young talents, players already in the know. Pathetic. Why don't you emply our scouts- that would work better, there would be no hard feelings etc…
3. Let's count Spanish players in La Masia and than count English players in Arsenal.
4. Win something. You steal our players, claim they come from your academy and than you can't win anything even with them. Even against Birmingham. Jesus.
It's not entirely true they could not afford it. We are not talking about 5-10 million dollars a year. But the cost was too high and the risk was too high for them- the boy didn't have to turn out good at all. They were keen- but not keen enough. Not enough to risk those costs (granted- bigger problem for them than for Barcelona) and potentially for no reason whatsoever. Barcelona provided it. Rexach also took a risk- not everybody in the club was convinced the whole thing was a good idea. He took the risk, Barca took the risk- the boy will be the first to say that he owes Barcelona a lot. And now Barcelona owes him a lot.
YES THE SAME WAY YOU STOLE MESSI.
Rooney was bought from Everton. Lampard from West Ham. Do your homework man!
I hate arsenal. Fuck arsenal.
barca SUCKSSS Theives call other Thieves.
"Where is Arsenal or Wenger then? He wouldn't give as shit about a sick boy."
You really think Barça gave a shit about a sick boy? They saw the kid's potential and nabbed him. His medical costs, whilst prohibitive for South American clubs, were nothing to a club with Barcelona's funds. If he hadn't had the talent, they wouldn't have touched Messi.
Also, you ignore the fact that English clubs can't recruit from South America at that age, just like Spanish clubs can't offer pro contracts until players are 17. So who's taking advantage?
Get off your high horse.
and Puyol, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Valdes, Thiago… I can name a lot, and Messi came to Braça at a very young age, not at 16 or 17, where we offered him a 30 times bigger salary than he could make at his club in Argentina
wow…as a long time barca fan I am really ashamed of some of the comments from fans here. A lot of Barca fans here are fakes only interested in the recent glory and success.
Barcelona and every other clubs take players with talents, if they can. It is hypocritical of barca and arsenal fans to call each other theives. The players' will is also a big part of the transfers.
Arsenal fans have to understand that barcelona's pride is their youth system. They specifically train all their youngsters to play the barcelona system so that when they are of age they can easily fit in the first team. So it does hurt them when one of their most promising talent is lured away.
And Barca fans also have to understand that it is always hard to see a first team player get lured away…especially if that first team player is an integral part of the team.
Also Arsenal fans don't seem to realize that they do get millions out of the players they sell while it is not the case for barcelona and the youngsters they cherish and work hard to actually have in the first team in the future. La Masia is barca's pride…it is what makes their identity and every talented player lured out of it is a loss ( not even millions gained out of it).
There is no stealing from both clubs because both take the players legally and have every right to do it.
As much as I love watching Arsenal play and I think what Wenger does with youngsters is remarkable, I cannot help but think that the deluded one is you and some other fellow gunnersnwho think you are the bees knees and rubbish everything Barca does. Small inferiority complex ther? 1) FC Barcelona is not only a football club, it has several professional sports teams that cost money ( basketball and handball amongst others, big sports in Spain). 2) until the rubbish deal with Qatar next year we did not have any middle eastern money sponsoring our stadium or shirt. The club has no rich shareholders, it belongs to it’s members. 3) look at the trophy cabinet and tell me what you see. 4)we have paid hard, excessive, in my opinion, cash for all the players we have bought from you. 5) the Barsa players keep being asked by journalist about Cesc and they give their opinion, they just not go around talking about it all the time. 6) Cesc himself said he wanted to play for Barca.7) you won 2-1 first leg. So what? 4-1 last year if I remember correctly.
Can go on if you want…
Hope this fellow understands what he is talking abt. His little mind and unrefined criticism tell his state of mind.Hope he really follows Barca good about their history both for the players individually and collectively as a team.May still go back and check the abaundant talents that have passed through Barca b4 th coming of Merssi.Yet others will surge out in no distant time.No matter what Fab says of Wenger,Guardiola stil remains his football hero,idol and mentor; hence the reason he grabs the no4 shirt when it was vacated by Viera.Macherano knows ever b4 he came that it wil b tough for him to command the 1st team shirt.Listen to his conferrence if u care to know.Besides,with due respect for Arsenal, Barca is pole away from them though both have something in common. So man pls do not sound insulting that does not make u an adent lover of Arsenal. Arsenal a great team and Barca a greater team.The records are there to count for this.