- Barcelona will reportedly be unable to register nine first-team stars next season
- The club has been sanctioned by La Liga amid an ongoing financial crisis.
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Barcelona are reportedly unable to register several first-team players for the upcoming La Liga campaign amid the club’s financial crisis.
The Catalan giants have been repeatedly penalized by La Liga over their finances following a series of big transfer deals and several years of mismanagement at the Camp Nou.
At the start of last season, the club’s salary cap was reduced by almost 50 per cent, from £558m to £232m, before being reduced again earlier this year.
Despite sanctions limiting their activity in the transfer market, the club managed a respectable second place last season, although they ultimately finished ten points behind leaders Real Madrid.
Next season is sure to bring even more uncertainty as former Germany coach Hansi Flick prepares to take the reins for his first transfer window in charge.
Barcelona’s current financial crisis has reportedly prevented them from registering several first-team players for next season.
It is said the club will have to raise more than £110m by June 30 to avoid potential transfer penalties.
According to a report by The AthleticBarcelona must find £110m by the end of this month or will likely be prevented from adding to their squad this summer after exceeding the league salary limit.
Currently, nine veteran players who started last season cannot register for next season.
These include the likes of former Chelsea star Marcos Alonso, Spanish international Íñigo Martínez and Brazilian star Vítor Roque.
To make matters worse for the Blaugrana, a number of well-paid stars who will return after being loaned out are automatically registered.
Clement Lenglet will return to the Camp Nou after spending last season at Aston Villa following a year at Spurs.
Former Chelsea star Marcos Alonso’s contract expires at the end of this month.
Meanwhile, prospect Vitor Roque was brought in as an “emergency” signing and will need to re-register if he wants to remain at the club next season.
The Frenchman struggled to find a place in Unai Emery’s burgeoning team and had to wait until December to make his debut for the Villans.
Despite enjoying a long spell in the team thereafter, a permanent move to the Premier League seems unlikely given the 28-year-old’s sizeable wage package.
Meanwhile, Ansu Fati spent the season on loan at Brighton but only made three Premier League starts for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
The 21-year-old still has three years left on his contract at the Camp Nou, where he reportedly earns £200,000 a week, which will no doubt be a serious headache for Flick as he attempts to shore up Barca’s finances.
After achieving a final victory on the last day of the season, outgoing coach Xavi warned his successor that managing one of Spain’s most historic teams would not be an easy task and that it would be difficult to gain recognition.
The situation is further complicated by the automatic registration of the return of loaned stars such as Ansu Fati.
‘To the new manager, I say: You will suffer.’ He said it after Barça’s 2-1 victory over Sevilla. “This is a difficult job and you have to be patient.”
And he added: ‘I think our work has not been valued enough. “I took over when the team was in ninth place, finished the season in second place and won the league the following season.”
