In Barcelona, any income they can get is very necessary given the club’s financial situation. Although the objective is to keep the team together and make only a couple of adjustments to the squad, the club needs to finalize some departures as it requires income that will not come solely from direct sales, as well as making room under the salary cap. There has been speculation that in recent days, after paying Joan García’s release clause of just over $25 million, the club had to resort to financing.
It is important both financially and in terms of the wage bill to make some departures, and the club is working to finalize the departure of Ansu Fati, which is already well advanced; those of Pau Víctor and Pablo Torre, which are in the initial stages; and that of Iñaki Peña. In addition, this weekend they received extra income when Celta exercised their option to buy Ilaix Moriba. The amount to be paid is $6 million, of which Barça will receive 10%. This is new extra income that will hopefully not be the only one to improve financial fair play and allow the club to enter the market with more guarantees.
Improving fair play is mandatory
“The rebuilding process is underway. Currently, the problem is no longer financial, but rather financial fair play, due to the strict rules that exist,” said sporting director Deco just a few days ago. Rules that, according to president Laporta, are close to being met. “Fair play is determined by LaLiga at the end of the season depending on budgets. We will bring in €950 million this year. Next season, the budget will exceed €1 billion. We are confident that we will be at 1:1. This makes it much easier for Deco to work,” he said.
The 1:1 rule refers to the fact that a club can spend the same amount of money on signings as it brings in, either through sales or salary savings. Right now, the Azulgrana team is outside this rule after an auditor did not account for the sale of VIP boxes this fiscal year because they were not built. Now that they are, the documentation will be submitted so that they can be counted. Likewise, the club is trying to make some departures, although some may be unexpected, as well as extra income from percentages of sales saved from former Azulgrana players.
Extra income is on the way
One of the extra income sources that Barcelona hopes to receive would come from the sale of Óscar Mingueza. After his great season with Celta, with whom he qualified for the Europa League, he has attracted a lot of interest in the market. Although it appears that the most likely option is his renewal, a powerful suitor has emerged.
Marseille are reportedly willing to pay a fee close to the release clause, which is set at €20 million. Balaídos are standing firm on the asking price, referring to the release clause and unwilling to negotiate. According to journalist Matteo Moretto, the French club have already approached his entourage to negotiate a move that looks complicated. The former Barça player’s contract with Celta Vigo expires in 2026 and negotiations are underway to extend his contract and keep him at Balaídos, which would leave Barça with no reward in the short term. This is because FC Barcelona retained a percentage of a future sale, 50%, so if the sale were to be closed at 20 million, the Catalans could receive around 10 million.