Aitana Bonmati's agent confirmed that Chelsea were ready to trigger the release clause of the Barcelona star to lure her to WSL.
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Chelsea hold a long-standing interest in BonmatiWere ready to put in a historic bid for the Ballon d'Or winnerThe midfielder snubbed the Blues to continue at BarcaWHAT HAPPENED?
Bonmati has entered the final year of her contract with the Blaugranas but has reached an agreement to ink a renewal which could potentially make her the highest-paid player of the side. She has been at Camp Nou since the age of 13 and is set to continue her journey at the Catalan club in the future.
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However, English giants, Chelsea were ready to break the bank for Bonmati by triggering her €3 million (£2.53m/3.32m) release clause – which would have made her the most expensive signing in the history of women's football. But the player rebuffed the approaches and placed her trust in the sporting project at Barcelona which has helped her scale the heights of success.
WHAT CHRISTIAN MARTIN SAID
In an interview on Catalunya Radio'sprogramme, Bonmati's agent Cristian Martin revealed: "Chelsea were willing to pay the €3m termination clause. That Barça can compete with offers of this calibre shows you that, instead of lowering the women's budget, it is the other way around. In addition, Barça wants to continue to capitalise on the hegemony it has. It is consolidating its hegemony and Aitana's role within Barca is also being consolidated."
DID YOU KNOW?
However, Martin has warned that it would be a challenge for the Spanish league to compete with the financial muscle of WSL clubs in the future and Barcelona are well aware of the consequences. They have already lost forward Mariona Caldentey to Arsenal this summer after she refused to extend her contract and other stars could follow suit.
"The risk is that over the years the Spanish League will not improve and that this will not let it compete with the English clubs. The players may have new ambitions, as has happened with Mariona this season," he said.