FC Barcelona has no money, but still buys diligently. The Catalans’ idiosyncratic financial policy is not only unsustainable, it is even at the expense of their own players.
Barcelona – Actually, he has FC Barcelona not even nothing, but less than nothing. According to their own statements, 1.35 billion euros in debt weigh on the world club. Debts? No obstacle for President Joan Laporta to go on a big shopping spree this summer.
A whopping 58 million euros were left for the Brazilian Raphinha from Leeds United, for ex-Munich Robert Lewandowski 45 million. Now the French defender Jules Koundé follows for 50 million (transfer fee plus bonuses), Barça announced an agreement with FC Sevilla on Thursday. So far on the transfer revenue side: “Measly” 20 million euros for Philippe Coutinho.
How can FC Barcelona afford expensive players? Nagelsmann puzzles
Not only Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann is puzzled: “They buy a lot of players – I don’t know how. It’s the only club in the world that doesn’t have any money, but buys every player.” So how is this madness possible? President Laporta puts everything on one card: quick, short-term success. For this, the club takes on a huge mortgage for the future.
The club plans to sell up to 25 percent of the TV rights for the coming years, and some deals have already been made. In addition, 49.9 percent of the club’s own merchandise is to be sold. Overall, the club wants to generate more than 600 million euros in revenue. In other words: Barça can have long-term income “paid out” in one go in order to pay off debts in the here and now and to be able to act on the transfer market. However, the income will decrease in the future.
Joan Laporta cannot be accused of a lack of creativity: The “Spotify Camp Nou” is now also rented out to fans.
© Gerard Franco Crespo/imago
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FC Barcelona: Large-scale transfers – but no money for their own players
FC Barcelona raised 435 million euros by selling the stadium name and jersey advertising to the music streaming provider Spotify. Together with a loan of half a billion euros from the American investment bank Goldman Sachs, this is enough to circumvent the financial regulations of the Spanish league association LFP.
So the money is bubbling up again on the transfer market – on the other hand, there are radical savings with your own players. Midfield star Frenkie de Jong in particular feels this first hand. Barça want the Dutchman Manchester United sell, but he wants to stay. He recently accepted major salary losses due to the Corona crisis, money that he is contractually entitled to. The club reportedly owe their player up to €20m.
Record amount of 222 million euros: the 11 most expensive transfers in history
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And he’s not the only one to suffer: According to the Sports world those responsible want to halve the salaries of all players in the coming season. There should only be exceptions for recently committed players.
Gary Neville accuses FC Barcelona of “bullying”.
Ex-England international Gary Neville is outraged and advises de Jong: “He should consider legal action against Barcelona. A club that spends fortunes on new players when they are unable to pay full salary to those they have under contract is immoral and a violation,” he wrote on Twitter, speaking of “bullying”.
With Lewandowski, Raphinha, Koundé and new signings Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessié on a free transfer, coach Xavi undoubtedly has a team that can play for all trophies again. At the same time, however, the pressure is increasing immensely. If the hoped-for titles and prize money don’t materialize in the next few years, things could get really dangerous – not for Xavi, but for the entire club. (epp)
Headline image: © Gerard Franco Crespo/imago
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