Barça will not miss the opportunity to sign Rafael Nogueira da Silva, known as Fits, at no cost. Barça Board of Directors has already given the green light to the sporting coordinator, Jordi Torras, to finalize the signing of the left-footed pivot from Movistar Inter. Once the Brazilian player secures his contractual release and free transfer. The first obstacle Jordi Torras faced for Fits to join Barça was budgetary. The Catalan club is willing to make an unscheduled financial effort in the 2024-25 season and will offer him a contract until 2027. However, the player will also contribute in the first season and will be duly compensated in the second and third campaigns.
Fits will fit
Since Fits learned that Movistar Inter wanted to release him in early June, the Brazilian center has sought support from his family and delegated to his agent, Pepe Arraes (New Futsal), to handle his abrupt departure from the Madrid club. Only after an agreement is reached by both parties and the player from São Paulo signs it at the end of the month, has he begun to consider his future. Barça has always been the priority, although Balearic Islands Palma Futsal was also an attractive option. Jordi Torras requested time from Fits to plan the operation in economic and sporting terms at Barça. With the Board of Directors’ approval, the new coach, Tino Pérez, can now be assured that he will have the reference pivot he had long desired.
Strategic Decision
Strategically, the signing of Fits was an opportunity that Barça had to seize, and the club recognized this. A left-footed pivot, a Brazilian international, and free at this stage of the summer, was an opportunity not to be missed. However, there is still a sporting issue to resolve. The first team already has all 15 federation memberships occupied, so a player must be discharged to register Fits. Barça is not in a rush, considering the World Cup in Uzbekistan from September 14 to October 6. Although Sergio González is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is expected to return in January 2025. Jordi Torras and Tino Pérez want to carefully weigh their final decision and avoid any hasty moves due to potential long-term injuries in the summer.
With Fits, Tino Pérez will have a top-level trio of pivots, including Pito and Álex Yepes. Additionally, Fits will balance the squad with his left-footed specialty to implement the 3-1 formation, although Pérez has usually preferred the 4-0. Along with the signings of Eric Martel (Albali Valdepeñas Vineyard) and Khalid Bouzid (Santa Coloma Industries) and the consolidation of Frenchman Mamadou Touré in the first team, the coach from Toledo assured that “we have the best squad.”