LaLiga CEO Signals Barcelona Nearing 1:1 Spending Rule Return, Opening Door for Victor Osimhen Pursuit

Barcelona’s prolonged financial rehabilitation may be approaching a significant milestone, with LaLiga CEO Javier Gomez suggesting the club are on the verge of returning to the 1:1 economic control ratio — the league’s standard spending framework — ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Speaking to Sport, Gomez pointed to a combination of factors contributing to the club’s improving financial position without offering a direct assessment. “We can’t make assessments; you can. But there is public data. The auditor has accepted, for example, around €70m from the VIP boxes. Then there’s [Robert] Lewandowski’s departure; he has a high salary cost. They’re going to open a new stand at Camp Nou. That’s enough to form an opinion,” he said.

The 1:1 rule permits clubs to reinvest one euro for every euro generated through player sales or wage reductions. For Barcelona, returning to this threshold would represent a dramatic departure from the punishing spending ratios they have been subject to in recent years, during which the club was required to generate three or four euros in savings before being permitted to spend a single euro on squad registration.

To stay competitive while operating under those restrictions, Barcelona’s board was compelled to activate a series of controversial financial “levers” — asset monetisation mechanisms involving the partial sale of domestic television rights and club studio assets — measures that drew widespread scrutiny but provided short-term liquidity.

The combination of new Camp Nou revenue streams, the auditor’s acceptance of approximately €70 million from VIP box arrangements, and the exit of Robert Lewandowski — who carried a substantial wage burden — has materially altered the club’s financial outlook. The recently crowned 2025/26 La Liga champions now appear positioned to operate in the transfer market without the compliance penalties that have hampered squad-building for several seasons.

With Lewandowski’s departure creating a vacancy at centre-forward, Victor Osimhen has emerged as a high-profile target according to reports. The Nigerian international is currently on loan at Galatasaray, where he has made a considerable impact. In a separate development reported on 20 May 2026, Galatasaray’s head coach praised Osimhen, describing the €75 million spent to secure him as worthwhile — a valuation that now represents the benchmark any pursuing club, including Barcelona, would need to meet or exceed.

Barcelona’s potential pursuit of Osimhen would mark a notable shift in their transfer capacity. Previously unable to finance moves of that scale due to LaLiga’s financial fair play restrictions, the club’s restored spending power — if the 1:1 ratio is formally confirmed ahead of the new season — would provide the structural foundation to mount a credible offer for the 26-year-old striker.

The formal confirmation of Barcelona’s financial ratio status is expected in the lead-up to the summer transfer window. Until LaLiga officially registers the club under the 1:1 rule, any transfer activity remains contingent on final compliance assessments. The coming weeks are likely to prove decisive in determining the full scope of Barcelona’s ambitions in the market.