The €25 million transfer that included an 'anti-Barcelona' clause
In short: In 2016, Paris Saint-Germain paid a reported €25 million for Jesé Rodríguez Ruiz. But the deal contained a unique stipulation: a clause preventing the French giants from ever selling the Spanish winger to Real Madrid's fiercest rivals, FC Barcelona.
Jesé’s career is a study in the volatile trajectory of elite footballing prospects. A product of the Real Madrid academy, he was once described by club chairman Florentino Pérez as the 'jewel in the crown' of the club's youth system. By the 2013–14 season, he was breaking records, surpassing the single-season goal tally of 21 set by Emilio Butragueño in 1983–84 to net 22 goals for the reserve side, Castilla.
His rise was met with significant hurdles. During his tenure at Madrid, he faced intense competition and public discussions regarding his playing time under managers like José Mourinho. Despite his talent, a complete tear of his anterior cruciate ligament in March 2014—following a challenge by Sead Kolašinac—sidelined him for much of the season. While he contributed to Real Madrid's Champions League and Copa del Rey successes, his momentum was severely disrupted.
The move to Paris Saint-Germain in August 2016 was intended to be a fresh start, but the transition was difficult. After struggling to find form and accumulating only 358 minutes of league play, Jesé sought a return to Spain. This led to a loan move to his hometown club, Las Palmas, where he reportedly accepted a massive pay cut to help the team pursue European football.
Beyond the pitch, Jesé has explored life as a musician, performing under the stage name Jey M. He briefly participated in a reggaeton duo that formed in March 2014, though the group disbanded later that same year.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Jesé
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