Seventeen minutes, 20 million euros: Matheus Fernandes and Barcelona reach settlement

In the summer of 2021 and after failed negotiations to reach an agreed exit from the club, Barcelona decided to dismiss the Brazilian player. The consequence now is that Barcelona will have to pay him a total of 8.5million euros.

At least, as a consolation, it will save the additional five million that the player was claiming for moral damages and for tarnishing his image. 

Matheus, for whom Barca paid Palmeiras 8.6 million euros in January 2020, played just 17 minutes in Barca colours. It was in a game against Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League the following season, as he was loaned to Real Valladolid as soon as he landed in Spain. 

Once that season was over, the club considered that he did not have the ability to play in the first team and tried to terminate the contract that tied him to the club until June 2025.

There was no agreement and finally the club unilaterally dismissed him, citing disciplinary reasons and poor performance.

Now, the courts have ruled in favour of the Brazilian player after Barcelona's justification of "underperformance" was not taken into account because it lacked an objective "element of comparison", according to the court ruling.

Matheus now plays for Bragantino in his home country on loan from Palmeiras, where he returned after his dismissal. 

Never have 17 minutes cost so much. Between signing, salary and compensation, the amount is almost 20 million euros that Barcelona are out of picket