With their homework done, FC Barcelona is now more focused on the boardroom than on what happens on the pitch. The arrival of Hansi Flick has been a breath of fresh air for the Azulgranas, who have rediscovered their essence and, drawing on La Masía, have won three titles in an unbeatable 2025 season that began with the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid, whom they later beat in the Copa del Rey final and in LaLiga.
It has been a great season, but not everything has been plain sailing, as Barcelona succumbed to Inter Milan in a match in which the defense was called into question, so reinforcing that area of the field cannot be ruled out in order to further improve the performance of what is already a well-oiled machine, although this will be difficult.
Salary cap to watch
Improving the squad will also depend largely on how Barcelona manages its finances. Doubts surrounding the club’s financial fair play are once again the focus of attention this summer. The exclusion of €10 million from the Camp Nou’s VIP seats, on the grounds that they were not part of this financial year, as well as statements by LaLiga assuring that the team is over the salary cap, set alarm bells ringing.
These alarms were deactivated by the president, who, in an interview with RAC1, sought to send a message of calm. “I have always promised on these issues that we will fight to the end. And we will do it again. On the institutional front, we have had to make some very difficult decisions under great pressure. We came from a very bad situation and we have overcome it. We are in a process of economic recovery. We will return to Spotify Camp Nou next season. The work is progressing at a faster pace. In the winter, we renewed players and now in the summer, if we have to make a move to improve the team, we will do so because we are in a position to do so. But we must not forget that we have a competitive team that must be valued,“ said Laporta, adding, ”they will give us the salary cap and, based on that, we will work. The club is not standing still. We are looking at several operations: players who are on loan, seats… For now, we have a 1-1. Now it’s about keeping them at these levels.”
Departures expected in defense
In order to maintain and improve, it will be important for Barcelona to finalize some departures. Defense is where the most movement is expected during the transfer window, and two players could leave gaps in the center of the back line to make room for new additions. We are talking about Christensen and Araujo.
The Danish center back has gained prominence at the end of the season with games that are now meaningless, but the truth is that his constant injuries have kept him off the pitch for practically the entire season, preventing him from leaving in the winter when he had suitors.
Araújo also has suitors, and powerful ones at that. He has been relegated to the background at times by Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez, and in the Champions League semi-final second leg in Milan, he was singled out as the culprit for the two goals that gave the Italians the win.
A center back on the agenda
With the possibility of departures in the center of defense, Barcelona is sounding out the market and, although the main target is Jonathan Tah, the Catalan club has set its sights on Jhon Lucumí after an outstanding season with Bologna, crowned with the Coppa Italia title. The player has expressed his desire to leave if a good offer comes in this summer as he seeks new challenges. The Colombian is valued at €18 million.