Former Spain coach Javier Clemente has slammed Barcelona's swoop for Leganes striker Martin Braithwaite.

Barca were granted permission to sign an emergency forward due to the injuries to Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele and chose to pay Braithwaite's release clause.

That leaves Leganes in the midst of a relegation battle missing their top striker and without the ability to sign a replacement.

"This thing about signing players from the same league is a way of weakening the teams that fight for the same objectives of you with money," Clemente tweeted.

"[It's] a diplomatic and legal way of buying matches."