Barcelona’s Financial Burden Unchanged Since Lionel Messi’s Departure

• Barcelona’s debt remains the same as when Lionel Messi left in 2021
• The Spanish club had activated some economic levers to finance signings since 2021
• The current La Liga champions have only recently reduced their salary limits

Barcelona’s debt remains the same as when Lionel Messi left in 2021, with the Spanish champions still €1.35 billion in the negative.

Joan Laporta returned to office as president of the Blaugrana in March 2021 and was charged with the task of restoring financial order at Camp Nou.

Little progress has been made since then, with the vice president of economics, Eduard Romeu, revealing to Cadena Cope that the club’s debts remain at €1.35bn, with that figure not taking into account the €1.5bn cost of the Espai Barca project that will be delivering major redevelopment of the club’s famous stadium.

Romeu claims that debts have been restructured over a 10-year period, with several economic levers being put in place.

Neymar a possible alternative for FC Barcelona after Lionel Messi decision

Football

The Blaugrana also intend to carry on spending, as they are linked with a number of potential additions in the summer transfer window.

Barcelona’s debt and salary limit

The Spanish club have recently reduced their salary limit from €708m to €528m, with €51m relating to players that they intend to move on this summer – including Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti, Alex Collado, Gustavo Maia, and Sergino Dest.

Barcelona also owe €389m in deferred salaries and rising contracts, although deals put in place for the likes of Gavi and Ronald Araujo can be registered.

Romeu has refuted claims from Laporta’s former presidential rival, Victor Font, that the club are worse off than they were when bidding farewell to Messi – as they were unable to fund a new contract for the Argentine superstar – but there remains much work to be done.

Barca TV is being disbanded, but the club’s women’s team – who are the only entity not to be generating losses – will not face cuts, with Romeu is quoted by Goal as saying:

Transfers: Journalist names the obstacle in the way of Kai Havertz’s move to Real Madrid

Football

“You have to be sustainable, we will maintain competitiveness. It will not have cuts, but we cannot go crazy either.”

Barcelona offered new franchise opportunity

Sports Brief earlier reported that Barcelona have been offered a chance to own a club in the Qatari League.

The Barcelona president is said to have met with Qatari businessmen from Baladi Holding during his recent trip to the Middle East as he tried to source revenue for the cash-strapped club.