West Brom taking Barcelona to FIFA over Louie Barry
Albion are taking their case to FIFA having still not received a penny following the departure of Louie Barry to Spain.
England youth international Barry rejected a three-year contract at The Hawthorns to join the Catalan giants in July.
The La Liga side have to pay just £235,000 for the youngster – a figure set by FIFA for 16-year-olds who move abroad.
But despite five-months having passed, Barcelona have yet to stump up the cash – with the Spanish side now trying to dispute they owe Albion anything at all.
Back in September, the Express & Star revealed the Baggies were considering reporting Barcelona to FIFA over their refusal to pay for the teenager.
And now the club has approached the world governing body after growing increasingly frustrated with how Barcelona have handled the situation.
Albion have had it confirmed from the Premier League, English Football League and the FA that all their paperwork was in order when they offered Barry terms.
However, Barcelona are now trying to dispute the type of contract offered to Barry.
The Baggies feel the Spanish side has done everything it can to delay paying for the youngster from the moment he arrived.
And the latest delay has frustrated the Baggies hierarchy – with club now feeling they have no other option but to make the game's governing body aware of the dispute.
Incredibly, the £235,000 Barcelona owe Albion is a drop in the ocean compared to what they owe other clubs.
Barca signed Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool for a reported £142 million in January, 2018.
But they still owe £82million for the Brazilian, who is on loan at Bayern Munich.
That debt now appears to have been sold to a financial institution by Liverpool.
Barcelona also owe £43 million to Ajax for Frenkie De Jong and £27 million to Bordeaux for Malcolm – who has since joined Zenit St. Petersburg.
In addition to Barry, Albion had also been ready to speak to FIFA having not received any cash following Allan Nyom’s move to Getafe earlier this year.
The defender joined the Spanish side for an undisclosed fee in July, having previously been on loan at Leganés in Spain.
But it is understood Getafe have now paid Albion what they were owed and the matter is closed.
