Brazilian forward Kerolin left Manchester City under a cloud after failing to report for pre-season training last month, weeks before her move to European champions Barcelona was finalized. The transfer, confirmed by Barcelona on Tuesday, has left several City staff and players stunned by the manner of her departure.
The 26-year-old did not join her Manchester City teammates when pre-season training began in late July, a decision that came as a surprise given she had previously appeared to be on good terms with the squad. As of Thursday afternoon, City had not published any official statement or comment regarding the transfer, a notable silence given the club's usual practice of confirming departures.
According to reports, staff and players inside the club were left disappointed by what was perceived as an attempt by Kerolin to engineer her exit to Barcelona. Compounding the frustration was the fact that she reportedly did not say goodbye to her teammates in person before leaving, an omission that has unsettled many at the Women's Super League champions given the success they shared together.
Kerolin was a key figure in City's triumphant campaign last season, helping the club end a decade-long wait for the WSL title while also contributing to their Women's FA Cup success. Her departure so soon after those celebrations has added to the sense of an unusually sour ending to her time at the club.
The transfer fee, described as an initial €1.2m (£1m), stands as the largest sum ever received by a WSL club for a player sale, with potential add-ons pushing the total to approximately £1.25m, though City have not officially confirmed the figures. The deal ranks among the biggest transfers in the history of the women's game.
While City are understood to have no objections to the transfer itself, the club was reportedly caught off guard by Kerolin's absence from pre-season fitness testing, which came before any agreement with Barcelona had been reached. Such transfer standoffs, while a familiar feature of the men's game, remain relatively uncommon in women's football, making this episode particularly notable.
For Kerolin, the move represents a significant step up, joining a Barcelona side that lifted the Women's Champions League title last season after defeating OL Lyonnes in the final. The Catalan club have established themselves as the dominant force in European women's football in recent years, and the Brazilian forward now joins their ranks as one of the sport's most expensive transfers.
The circumstances surrounding her exit will do little to alter the football calendar, however. Manchester City and Barcelona are scheduled to meet in a pre-season friendly at the Joie Stadium on 15 August, with both clubs using the fixture to sharpen their preparations as reigning champions of England and Spain respectively. The timing means Kerolin could potentially face her former teammates just weeks after completing her switch, adding an intriguing subplot to what would otherwise be a routine pre-season exhibition.
Kerolin's representatives have been contacted for comment on the circumstances of her departure, though no response had been received at the time of reporting. Manchester City have similarly yet to issue an official statement addressing the transfer or the manner in which it unfolded.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.