By mutual agreement, Gustavo Maia, a misfit Brazilian, had his contract with FC Barcelona terminated, the club announced
“FC Barcelona and Gustavo Maia have come to terms on the player’s termination. The Brazilian ends his three seasons as a blaugrana player, according to a statement posted early on Monday morning on the club’s official Spanish-language website. His contract was set to expire on June 30, 2025.
The athlete will continue his career with Vila Nova FC in Brazil. The Catalans continued, “The Club wishes Gustavo Maia luck and success in the future and openly expresses its gratitude to him.
Maia was acquired from Sao Paulo FC in 2020, and his move was among the many puzzling decisions made under the administration of former Barca president Josep Bartomeu, who, in the words of former CEO Ferran Reverter, who worked under Bartomeu’s successor Joan Laporta, “technically bankrupted” the organization.
Bartomeu frequently overpaid for players, but when it was revealed that a deal had been reached to pay €4.5 million ($5 million) for Maia, questions were raised
This occurred when Bartomeu authorized the €7 million ($7.5 million) plus €3 million ($3.3 million) in add-ons purchase of Matheus Fernandes, a fellow countryman of Maia who was previously unknown. Fernandes similarly turned out to be a bust and left in June 2021 without having made a single first team appearance.
El Espanol reports that Barca was also ordered to pay Fernandes, who was picked up by Palmeiras and is currently on loan at Red Bull Bragantino, about €8.5 million ($9.4 million) in damages for unjust dismissal.
However, it should be recalled that Ronald Araujo and Pedri were purchased for prices comparable to what Barca spent for Maia. Since then, the midfielder and defense have developed into two of the top players in the world in their positions, and Bartomeu must take some credit for this.
But if Maia had had the same potential, he would have thrived with Barca Youth before moving up to the main team coached by Ronald Koeman and later by current manager Xavi Hernandez.
Instead, the 22-year-old played for the reserve team for just 283 minutes over eight games before being sent back over the Atlantic to Brazil, where he started a loan with Internacional.
Maia moved to Valencia’s reserves this summer after spending a season and a half in Porto Alegre. Valencia had the opportunity to buy Maia, but they chose not to do so
Because of Maia’s lengthy contract, which stretched through 2025, cash-strapped Barcelona struggled to find a home for the winger.
However, it turns out that Maia has graciously accepted to resign in order to try and restart his career at Vila Nova.
Given his youth, Maia still has time to turn things around in Serie B, Brazil’s second level, and climb the football rankings again.
When it comes to young Brazilians, Barca has made wiser purchases under Laporta and has already signed Vitor Roque from Athletico Paranense, who can play as a striker or a wide player and is highly rated.
By settling on a transfer worth an initial €30 million ($33.2 million) and a further €31 million ($34.3 million) in variables if a number of goals are accomplished, Roque was acquired.
