These are times of transition at Barcelona. Financial complications recently brought the Catalan club to its knees, ultimately leading to Lionel Messi’s shock exit to PSG. With the club reportedly asking high-profile players like Gerard Piqué to take pay cuts, things didn’t look good.
Joan Laporta came in to steady the ship in January 2021, using bold and ingenious methods to generate transfer funds for Barca’s depleted squad. The man responsible for the club’s imperial phase between 2003 and 2010 has signed several players so far, but will any more follow?
It’s the question on everyone’s lips, not least sports bettors with their eyes on La Liga. Real Madrid have overtaken Barcelona in the league’s power rankings, looking a far better bet over the last few seasons.
Betting on Barcelona without Messi or Suárez is also riskier, especially where goals are concerned. Bet365 free bet promotions are great ways to start betting on the legendary Catalan side without the associated risk. With several new signings, the future looks bright, but you never know.
Xavi might even get a few new additions to his squad before the transfer window is out. Barca are interested in Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, but whether they can afford him is another question.
Keep reading for a look at Barcelona’s financial position and whether the club will make any more signings this summer.
Why are Barca in a financial mess?
Barcelona are suffering the consequences of several questionable transfers and years of financial mismanagement. Many people wonder how a club can be in financial disarray after receiving £198m for Neymar, but president Josep Maria Bartomeu managed to bungle it.
Spending almost £400m on Antoine Griezmann, Phillippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembélé over the last few years is one factor. None of these players can convincingly argue they’ve made much of an impact, yet their financial cost was immense.
Transfer fees are one thing, but Barca have also been extravagant with player contracts since the days of MSM. Having three of the best attackers in history on the books was bound to destabilise the club’s financial foundations after a while.
How Joan Laporta steadied the ship
Barcelona relied on cut-price transfers like Martin Braithwaite before Joan Laporta returned to the helm. The club president took the radical step of selling future licensing rights, generating over £509m with a few big deals.
It explains how Barcelona afforded Raphinha, Franck Kessié, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen this summer. Many spectators looked on in disbelief at the transfers, with the Catalans previously declaring a massive £1bn debt under Bartomeu.
Whether or not Laporta’s extreme tactics will pay off in the long term remains to be seen. On the one hand, he has generated enough funds to keep Barcelona competing, but it has come at a huge potential cost.
Selling over 30% of TV licensing revenue over the next three decades is risky, as is selling 49.9% of the Barca Licensing and Merchandising Company. Only time will tell whether Laporta has made the right decision.
Complications along the way
It hasn’t all been rosy since Laporta returned as club president. He made some exciting signings for Xavi’s squad, but Barca were initially blocked from registering any new players. This led to club legend Gerard Piqué taking a salary reduction and the sale of 49% of Barca Studios.
All players have been registered now, but it hasn’t been easy. Barcelona fans worldwide will desperately be hoping Lewandowski and company will make it worthwhile. The club looks financially stable for now, but with Financial Fair Play reviews and other future obstacles, they’re not in the clear yet.
Barcelona transfers so far
Barcelona have acted quickly and shrewdly in the transfer market, making several vital signings. Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich is the big one, with the Polish striker moving on after a decade in Munich. You can find a full list of Barca’s summer transfers below:
- Andreas Christensen (from Chelsea on a free).
- Franck Kessié (from AC Milan on a free).
- Raphinha (from Leeds for £52.5m).
- Robert Lewandowski (from Bayern Munich for £38m)
- Jules Koundé (from Sevilla for £50m)
Will there be any more signings before the window closes?
Most football experts had no idea the Catalans would be able to afford the players they have signed so far, and even more could be on the way. Pep Guardiola has revealed Bernardo Silva likes Barcelona a lot, and the transfer could easily happen before the transfer window closes.
Laporta is evidently sticking with his tactic of selling off licensing revenue percentages or stakes in one of the club’s many sister companies. He will have funds to spend as a result, with players like Ángel Di María and İlkay Gündoğanon on the potential shopping list.
Who knows? One day we may even see Barca’s guiding star Lionel Messi return to Camp Nou. It looks unlikely for this transfer window, but never say never.
See More: Top 5 Players Barcelona Could Sign
