FC Barcelona have had one of the best transfer windows football fans have ever seen. Despite the massive financial debt and the uncertainty at the club, the Blaugrana have managed to sign Bayern Munich and Polish goal machine Robert Lewandowski, Leeds winger Raphinha and Sevilla defender Jules Koundé.
Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie have also joined the club on free transfers. While Chelsea left wing-back Marcos Alonso is next in line to join the Catalonia club. The club also renewed the contract of Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto. The club have in total spend around £150m in the ongoing transfer window. While the abolition shown by the club and the money spent may bring a smile to the fan’s faces.
But the club have had to active three economic levers, meaning the club have sold 15% stake in their LaLiga TV rights. BLM, the company that manages the club’s official merchandise, such as shirts, mugs, pens, scarves, etc. The sale of 49.9% of BLM was also approved. Barca have also sold 10% of their television rights to Sixth Street in June in a deal worth €267m.
Despite the club’s economic levers. The club have been banned to register any new signings until they reduce their financial outgoings. Reports suggest that La Liga have rejected the club’s bid to register new signings as they are still a €150m gap in the finances. Not only the new signings but Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto also cant be registered as both the players signed the new contract after their initial contracts had expired.
4th economic lever
Star midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been linked with Manchester United all summer and the red devils have even agreed on a fee close to €85m with the Blaugrana. But the Dutch midfielder has shown no interest in relocating. On top of that, the midfielder is owed £17m in wages by the Spanish club. Barcelona will need to pay the owed wages before moving the midfielder on.
The club have also set a deadline for Martin Braithwaite and Samuel Umtiti to find a move away from the club. Or the club are ready to terminate both the player’s contracts. Barcelona have also reportedly asked star duo Gerard Piqué and Sergio Busquets to take another pay cut in order to balance the financial situation.
The club will need to activate a 4th economic lever, in order to register the new players. But the club are racing against time as the La Liga campaign kicks off on 12th August. The club need to register the players before that.