Martinez clarifies terms of Deulofeu deal with Barcelona

Conclusion? The way he is playing for club and country, enjoy him in an Everton shirt whilst you can. He'll be back in a Barca shirt in 2 years, at best...

Given Barcelona would have insisted on the buyback clause, enabling the low fee, according to Roberto we have covered ourselves.

If we bring in some more youing players in the next year or two, then I think we'll see a really good Everton team being able to take on the best in England. I think Gerry would want to be part of that.

But for any professional footballer, especially a Basque raised at the club since a kid, if the choice was Everton or Barcelona... what are the odds?

He's clearly developing and enjoying his football, he is yet still far from the finished article, which is what you need to be to play for Barca/Real.

It's a situation that currently suits and benefits everybody. He loves being here, is loved by the fans and loves playing for Roberto who is clearly playing a major role in developing the lad's game.

If he goes back to Barca – he isn't ready, is unlucky to start many games which will further hamper his development and likely stagnate as he he did last year.

In another two seasons, he will be a far more developed player and possibly ready for the Barca first team.

He's an exceptionally talented player, who can in time go on to be one of the World's very best. For now, he still developing and the best place for him is here, for the next two seasons at least.

Wishful thinking perhaps but the whole deal is very odd.

As well as that, we have the possibility of keeping him beyond that period and as some people have rightly put, Gerry himself may insist on staying with us until he is ready to start matches at Barcelona, which is at least two seasons away.

On top of all that, we will be in profit no matter when (or indeed if) we move Gerry on.

To me this all points to a excellent deal for both parties, with a future chance of securing similar deals with talented young Barca players.

All good in my book.

The lad clearly loves playing and seemingly has a good relationship with Martinez and the club. If we can keep him for 3/4 years I think we'll make an absolute fortune on him. He has so much potential, it's frightening. Just wish he'd stop diving, though.

As a Catalan, it's obvious he'd love to play for his first love but, like Charlie Burnett said, he will still be a bench warmer at best there for the foreseeable future.

I also like as well that, if they decide to sell him after they've taken him back, then we get first rights to buy him. Honestly even if he goes, being paid a few million to let Gerri play for us for a couple of seasons could hardly be seen as bad deal, and if he doesn't go, well...

He's magic you knowwwwww!

But financially, we look pretty strong. Particularly if they then sold him on to someone else. Plus we have the player for a year or two.

I'm actually quite impressed at this bit of negotiation!

You may be right about Luis Enrique not fancying Deulofeu, but somebody in the Barca hierarchy clearly saw fit to add that buy-back clause in his transfer deal.

All things considered, I think Everton did very well on this one. We've also done everything we can to stop Barca buying him back and flogging him off for a fast profit... which was one concern I had.

I think one thing that is surprisingly in our favour is the young star's personality. For someone who has been lauded as a genius since he was old enough to kick a ball, he's a very grounded and likeable lad. I also think he's clever enough to know what's best for his own future when the time comes. Hopefully that's EFC!

Geri knows that if he stays with us and does well he does have a path back to his dream club... that must help keep him with us (somewhat paradoxically) as it will make a move to a third club less attractive.

He has world class potential. This season, so far, he looks on course to realise this, so my hope would be that he knows he's playing for a manager who believes in him and he stays until the end of the 2nd season.

If he helps us win the League Cup this season, that will soften the blow for me, and he'll leave with my best wishes.

If I was Geri, I'd stay at a club... say Everton... bide my time, hone my skills, and then, after 5 or 6 years, when I'm at the highest level, go back to Barca as the saviour, not a bench-warmer... for really, really big bucks.

This fella could be one of Europe's best players if he keeps steadily improving (and starts using his left foot) because he has got everything in his locker. Enjoy him while we can because he, like Stones, Lukaku and Barkley will be amongst the most coveted youngsters in world football. I really hope we build a team around those players because their talent is frightening. So well done Bobby, just please keep them at Everton and we will win something.

So, for the most selfish of reasons, I hope all the Barca forwards stay at the peak of their game for another 2-3 years...at least!

We are going to have trouble keeping our best young players but a cup win would go some way for them wanting to stay. Without success, we're going to lose our best players, including Gerry, I'm hoping Roberto can find that midfield general I think we need and you never know. I don't think we're far away from being a really good side.

So do we hope he improves but only to a level where Barca aren't interested, or if he becomes what they want, it's adios and no money made at all.

I'm sure Barca were mucho happy with the deal.

I think Deulofeu likes to know he feels wanted by manager and fans, something that didn't happen with his loan move to Sevilla. I think he is a special player; now we know the deal, let's enjoy him till at least the summer. Then he will have a decision to make: Does he go back if Barca invoke the buy-back clause, or might he stay for a second season?

I think a lot will depend on if he thinks he will get first team chances at Barca; after all, young guys want to play not sit on the bench for months on end. Also he could use his second season to impress Del Bosque and force his way into the Spanish squad. Then Barca would have to guarantee him first-team football.

Also isn't it the case that the buy-back clause finishes after two seasons, ie, if Barcelona don't take him back then, he is our player? Unlikely given the lad's form but isn't that the case?

Could it turn into a human rights issue?

Just a small, but important, point – you said 'especially a Basque raised at the club since a kid'

He is not Basque – he is Catalan and Barcelona is also in Catalonia.

If this lad is knocking on the door of the senior Spanish side in a World Cup campaign, he won't want to sit on their bench.

And I lived in Barcelona for a year! I hope none of my old Barca drinking mates see this!

If he can continue to develop at the rate he is doing though, then I think he can become truly world class one day.

Enjoy it, could be many a year before his ilk is seen again.

Oh, and credit to El Bob for this signing (and a few others too); shame about his tactics though.

The only player we currently have that could potentially make the Barca bench (nevermind first team) is Stones. Deulofeu is improving all the while but it would be a massive leap needed from him to be ready for first-team football at the Nou Camp next summer.

Personally, I think we'll have him till at least summer 2017 – before then, there's always the chance we agree on another deal with Barca whereby we pay them €Xm to keep him permanently without any clauses.

Suppose Bayern Munich offers £50 million in the summer of 2017 and Everton accept; Barcelona has a big incentive to activate their buy-back clause and buy him for a mere £12 million (euros actually but for the sake of the argument let's disregard the exact currency), even if they're not going to play him they know they can sell him after a year for a big profit. But if Barça would get say 20% on the sale, they make an easy £10 million and probably would be ok with that. £40 million remains for Everton, which obviously is better than £12 million. Both Barça and Everton will be happy financially.

Of course this is all hypothetical. What really will happen is this: Deulofeu will turn out to be the next Messi and will play for Everton for the remainder of his career. He will score the first goal in the brand new 90,000-capacity Tony Hibbert Stadium in 2025 and break Dixie's goals-in-one-season record multiple times. You've read it here first!

Of course this is all hypothetical. What really will happen is this: Deulofeu will turn out to be the next Messi and will play for Everton for the remainder of his career. He will score the first goal in the brand new 90,000-capacity Tony Hibbert Stadium in 2025 and break Dixie's goals-in-one-season record multiple times. You've read it here first!

If only!

Also, if Bayern are willing to pay £50m for him now, then he would presumably be good enough for the Barca squad for those 12 months... and Barca may not even want to sell.

All hypothetical but he's here for a couple of years so let's see him develop and cross that bridge if it ever comes, I'd say.

We all have brain fade at one time or another......

Perhaps a better example: suppose Wolfsburg would want to pay £25 million and we would be willing to sell. Still, Barcelona could potentially make more money by buying Deulofeu for the agreed £12 million and sell him after a year, but if Deulofeu didn't play often his price would drop and the deal gets risky.

The other option is to accept the £5 million they can get risk free in this deal. We would still keep £20 million which is far better than £12 million.

It's all ifs and buts, I know.

"I'd like to tell Barcelona that he's rubbish but they come to watch our games"

If that is true, they will have more than one eye on Stones, and would not want to upset any apple cart with any potential deal there. I would put my house on Gerard Deulofeu still being here past this season. However, I think it is inevitable that we will see Stones and Deulofeu in Barca shirts over the next couple of years.

I know Ray ... only ... mine are becoming more frequent and happening in clusters!

In your example, I can't see Barca accepting just £5m from a hypothetical £25m Wolfsburg offer (they could buy for £12m and sell a year later for £25m – barring injuries).

However, if we were only going to get half, say £12.5m. Then, would it be in our own interest to sell him? Probably not as we'd be losing a £25m player to get £12.5m in cash... Even if Barca were willing to split it £15m/£10m in our favour; again, we'd be losing a £25m player to get £15m cash – I'm not sure that would suit us either.

If he does turn out to be worth £25m, I can't see any result other than Barca buying him back for £12m or we offer them them around £13m to remove the clause (ie, £25m less the £12m they would have to pay to get him back). Depending on our cash situation (cough) we could probably test the water and offer them £5m-£10m next summer to take the buy-back clause out of the contract – we'd have effectively then paid £14m, still a bargain if he continues to improve...

I can't see Barca coming back in unless he has an unbelievable season and they have a poor one – and, if he does, surely that's good for us.

As it stands, we have a bargain and a potential match-winner. I'm happy.

Barcelona would be taking a big risk if they buy him and don't play him for a year - it's not just injuries. He won't be worth £25 million after a year of not being played. And they would have to pay him for a year.

Taking the £5 million would be risk free for them. That's why I expect Barcelona to accept the 20% or whatever. But yes, it's all hypothetical and depending on the exact details of course.

What I'm getting at is this. I don't know the success rate of Deulofeu's free-kicks but he scored one against Reading and rocketed home a Ronaldo-type dipping beauty just 8 days ago against Georgia. The technique was even beyond the scope of Leighton Baines.

Of course none of this will cause Barkley to review his own lack of success. He will still grab the ball and tell everyone to stand aside. For someone who is not supposed to believe in himself, he doesn't do too bad at free-kick time. Heaven help us if one eventually goes in.

It only works in Barce's favour if they genuinely want him to be a member of the first-team squad. I for one would be happy for the guy to live out his dream in Barce's first team and be happy in the knowledge he will always think fondly of his time at Goodison. It might even set an example to other talent and allow us to arrange similar deals.

Imagine this guy somehow fulfilled his potential and became the new Messi, yet consistently gave soundbites about his time at Goodison.

On the other hand, If they buy him back with the intention to sell, then Everton make a healthy profit twice on the deal.

I agree, I also interpreted that line as "Barce are keeping tabs on Stones".

The terms are less scary than I thought, so we should have an upper hand to renegotiate it out of the contract should he prove to be stellar.

If it ever happened, I would like to see a player say "No way; I am staying put." The players apparently have all the power these days. I suppose this is the reality though.

Barkley did score one against Swansea the season before last but I agree that Deulofeu and others should take more. Don't get me started on Barkley's corners...

It'd have to be some shot from off the bench!

Andy (#56), you're right, the first club with the courage, and invention, to try something different will surely benefit.

Go back to Barcelona and prove yourself all over again. Not the finished article by a mile but you are at a club that is more forgiving and understanding.