Barcelona are reportedly unable to register multiple first-team players for the upcoming La Liga campaign amid the club’s financial crisis.
The Catalan giants have been repeatedly sanctioned by La Liga for their finances following a number of huge transfer deals and several years of mismanagement at the Nou Camp.
At the start of last season, the club’s salary cap was slashed by almost 50 per cent, from £558m to £232m before again being decreased earlier this year.
Despite sanctions limiting their activity in the transfer market, the club still managed a respectable second-place finish last season – though ultimately finished ten points behind runaway leaders Real Madrid.
Next season is sure to bring yet more uncertainty as former Germany head coach Hansi Flick prepares takes the reins for his first transfer window in charge.
Barcelona’s ongoing financial crisis has reportedly left them unable to register multiple first-team players for next season
The club are said to have to raise more than £110m by June 30 to avoid potential transfer sanctions
According to a report from The Athletic, Barcelona must find £110m by the end of this month or they will likely be prevented from adding to their squad this summer after overshooting the league’s salary limit.
At present, nine senior players who made starts last season cannot be registered for the upcoming campaign.
These include the likes of former Chelsea star Marcos Alonso, Spain international Inigo Martinez and Brazilian starlet Vitor Roque.
To make matters worse for the Blaugrana, a number of highly-paid stars that are set to return after being sent out on loan are automatically registered.
Clement Lenglet is set to return to the Nou Camp after spending last season at Aston Villa following a year at Spurs.
Former Chelsea star Marcos Alonso’s contract is set to expire at the end of this month
Meanwhile highly-rated prospect Vitor Roque was brought in as an ’emergency’ signing and will need to be registered again if he is to remain at the club next season
The Frenchman found it hard to break into Unai Emery’s burgeoning side and had to wait until December to make his debut for the Villans.
Despite enjoying an extended spell in the side from that point on, a permanent move to the Premier League appears unlikely given the 28-year-old’s significant wage packet.
Meanwhile, Ansu Fati spent the season on loan at Brighton, but made just three Premier League starts for the Seagulls.
The 21-year-old still has three years remaining on his deal at the Nou Camp, where he reportedly earns £200,000-a-week, which will no doubt prove a serious headache for Flick as he attempts to shore up Barca’s finances.
After securing a final win on the last day of the season, outgoing boss Xavi warned his successor that managing one of Spain’s most historic sides would prove no easy task with appreciation hard to come by.
The situation is made more complicated by returning loan stars such as Ansu Fati being automatically registered
‘To the new manager, I tell you: You will suffer.’ He said after Barca’s 2-1 win over Sevilla. ‘This is a difficult job and you have to be patient.’
He added: ‘I think that our work has not been appreciated enough. I took over when the team was in ninth place, finished the season in second place, and won the league the next season.’
