Barcelona is progressing in what could be a historic season for the club under Hansi Flick. When the season comes to an end, it will give way to a transfer market that is expected to be complicated, once again, for the team from Barcelona. The Azulgranas are struggling with financial problems and, without a sufficient salary cap, they are finding it difficult to sign new players.
Back to the salary cap
Barça’s financial situation seems like Groundhog Day. A never-ending mess. The Azulgrana had secured the 1:1 rule thanks to the allocation of VIP boxes, but LaLiga questioned this at every turn and ended up reducing the club’s salary cap.
This puts them back in a situation of excess and unable to sign or renew players without restrictions. LaLiga decided that the €100 million from the 475 VIP seats cannot be counted in this financial year as they are not yet real income for the club.
Crowe Global, Barcelona’s new auditor, does not endorse the sale of 475 VIP seats at the still-under-construction Spotify Camp Nou for €100 million as countable for the 2024 financial year. This contradicts the previous auditor’s certification.
This is the main problem with names such as Rashford and Jonathan Tah, who have expressed their interest in joining Camp Nou on multiple occasions, but no matter how hard the Barça team works on negotiations, the reality is that it cannot commit to anything because, as we said, there are vital renewals such as those of Lamine Yamal, Jules Koundé, and Raphinha still to be finalized.
Need to make departures
In this situation, Laporta needs to raise funds, and there are several players who are likely to leave and who are expected to generate revenue, as they are not in Hansi Flick’s plans. One problem in closing these sales is precisely the lack of playing time for players such as Pablo Torres, Ansu Fati, Iñaki Peña, and Christensen, among others, who could leave for little money as their value has dropped considerably.
That is why it cannot be ruled out that some painful sales will have to be made of players who, although secondary, are performing well and attracting interest from big teams. This includes names such as Fermín, Ferran Torres and Gavi, who have a number of suitors and spend more time on the bench than on the pitch.
Extra income
Laporta has secured some extra income that will come in handy for a complicated summer in terms of the transfer market. West Ham has already activated the mandatory purchase option for Jean-Claire Todibo. The English club, having secured its place in the Premier League, will pay around €42 million for the transfer.
Of that amount, Barça will receive 20% of the total transaction, as per the contract. In other words, Barça will receive around €8.5 million before June 30. This will allow Laporta to improve his salary cap for next season.
Todibo joined the Blaugrana team back in 2019 for just €1 million. Given his youth, he did not end up playing a leading role as a center back in the Catalan team and ended up being transferred for precisely €8.5 million, with 20% of the economic rights remaining with Barça.
At just 25 years of age, he is expected to still have a promising career ahead of him in one of Europe’s top leagues and increase his future transfer value, although the Barcelona-based club will not receive any more money from future deals.