BEVERLY HILLS, January 19, (THEWILL) – History was made in the football transfer market when former Real Madrid Castilla Club striker David Barral became the first professional player ever to be signed exclusively through the popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin.
The Spanish third division side, DUX Internacional de Madrid, also known as Inter Madrid, who bought the services of the striker recently teamed up with their new sponsors to make a splash in the transfer market with nothing but cryptocurrency.
In unveiling Barral as a new signing for their side, no transfer fee was disclosed and the deal has not yet been acknowledged by authorities, raising clear doubts about the validity of football deals in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, moving forward.
But that did not stop Inter Madrid’s social media parade of their man. Images of Barral posing with Internacional’s shirt were posted online along with the words: “David Barral new player of DUX Internacional de Madrid, welcome to the infinite club!
“He becomes the first signing in history in cryptocurrencies. Thanks to Criptan, our new sponsor, for making it possible,” the club freely boasted.
The veteran striker was not left out: “Glad to join the project of @interdemadrid with the ambition and responsibility to continue competing and achieve important challenges in my sports career,” he added to the post.
The online crypto guide for cryptocurrency enthusiasts claimed that Inter Madrid’s decision to press on with Bitcoin emerged from their association with their sponsors Criptan. As the first Spanish platform for the custody and sale of cryptocurrencies, Criptan is a local platform for commercial cryptocurrency purposes.
By itself, the crypto transfer is a landmark moment in football history as it could signal a shift in the way some clubs operate moving forward, especially clubs in the lower tiers who can leverage partnerships with crypto platforms to make transfers that are ordinarily beyond their financial brackets.
However, while this may be the first professional transfer via Bitcoin, three years ago an amateur Turkish side made headlines with their own cryptocurrency deal. At the cost of £1,226 worth of Bitcoin, Omer Faruk Kıroğlu joined Harunustaspor, at a conversion rate of £387.
In a transfer exchange that generated so much media attention, Harunustaspor paid 0.0524 Bitcoin (£385) plus 2,500 Turkish Lira in cash (£841) for Kıroğlu’s services from his former club 54 Futbol Kulubu.
The 37-year-old Barral, who made more than 50 appearances for the Real Madrid’s reserve side, Real Madrid Castilla Club, went on to have spells with Sporting Gijon, Levante and Racing Santander before being snagged up in this crypto transfer.
His new club Inter Madrid has been generating lots of attention especially with reports that claim Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois as being one of the owners. The Belgian keeper is said to have teamed up with friends Borja Iglesias and DJ Mariio to buy the third-tier side in 2020.
Bitcoin was created in 2009 and can be used to buy products and services. It has had a huge leap in users and exposure in the past few years.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
