BARCELONA’S EUROPEAN DREAMS NEARLY SHATTERED AMID FINANCIAL STORM, JOAN LAPORTA SAYS
Barcelona president Joan Laporta reveals the club narrowly avoided a one-year Champions League ban from UEFA for using their controversial 'economic levers' to survive a financial crisis.
Barcelona has made significant progress since Josep Maria Bartomeu took over as president, bringing the team's finances to an all-time low and leaving it deeply in debt.
They have overcome the worst thanks to several economic levers, contract renegotiations, and astute transfer manoeuvres, but they have yet to reach the financial 1:1 rule, which Joan Laporta has established as their long-term goal.
However, the path to the club's current location has not been straightforward.
After all, Barcelona has managed to defuse the situation with UEFA, in addition to having to endure the stringent regulations enforced by La Liga and having trouble registering players.
Laporta's startling disclosure
Speaking at the General Assembly, Laporta disclosed that the squad nearly received a one-year suspension from the UEFA Champions League for using many economic levers.
To get the levers triggered to get through the difficult times the club was going through, he really mentioned that he needed to negotiate with UEFA to make sure the team would not be subject to such a sporting sanction.
He started by saying, "The defensive reason we offered to UEFA for non-compliance with fair play is the reflection of leverage as a capital increase."
"Without a sporting sanction, we reduced a fine from €80 million to €60 million and subsequently to €15 million. They initially intended to deny us access to the UEFA Champions League.
The president then discussed how, considering that his board inherited the club from their predecessors, the levers that were used were unavoidable.
"The levers were designed to ameliorate the predicament we were in four and a half years ago and to avert an exceptional outflow of members," he stated.
Laporta continued by arguing that the use of financial levers did not constitute a deceptive portrayal of monetary gain, as UEFA had first alleged.
Leverage is not technically a capital increase. It is merely the transfer of assets for a predetermined amount of time, after which they are retrieved.
You get a specific sum of money in return. We raised €600 million by transferring 25% of our television rights to a fund.
"After 25 years, this sum—roughly €35 million—will be given back to the club. It is an asset transfer that will be recouped after a specific amount of time," he continued.
"We were able to save the club because of this," he said.
BARCELONA PUTS MARCUS RASHFORD’S £26M PERMANENT TRANSFER "ON ICE" EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Man Utd face a wage crisis as Marcus Rashford’s move to Barcelona stalls over financial constraints and salary caps.
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Marcus Rashford’s permanent move from Manchester United to Barcelona seems to have hit the brakes as the Catalan club reassess their plans for next season. They initially viewed Rashford’s experience as a key addition to support the young players they’re nurturing, but retaining Robert Lewandowski in that veteran role is now looking more likely.
Lewandowski was expected to leave, yet Barcelona have opened the door for him to stay, offering a new contract, though on less favourable terms. The financial impact of signing Rashford might complicate Barca’s other transfer ambitions, as the board weighs their options carefully.
Despite Hansi Flick’s wish to keep Rashford at Camp Nou, Barcelona appear to be holding off on the deal, partly due to challenges around his wage demands, according to reports in Sport. Rashford is reportedly willing to take a significant pay cut, nearly halving his salary through a longer-term contract, but even so, it could stretch the club’s wage budget.
A £26 million fee has reportedly been agreed for Rashford’s transfer, yet the total cost of his package has raised some eyebrows. There’s concern that making Rashford’s stay permanent might limit Barca’s ability to sign a defender and forward unless they offload other players.
Barcelona are reportedly exploring alternatives with profiles similar to Rashford, including Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup, Osasuna’s Victor Munoz, and Mallorca's Jan Virgili. With Lewandowski likely to stick around, these options might gain more traction.
Their pursuit of defender Alessandro Bastoni and a ‘world-class’ centre-forward could also shape the outcome, but things remain uncertain. How Rashford finishes this season might still influence what comes next.
So far, Rashford has scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona. He’s made it clear he’d prefer to stay.
“Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca,” he told Sport earlier. “It’s the end goal, but it’s not the reason why I’m training hard and giving it my best. The purpose is to win. Barca is a huge, fantastic club, built to win titles.”
Lewandowski, who turns 38 this summer, has been offered a contract with half his current fixed salary. As a Bundesliga legend, he still wants clarity regarding his role, and several clubs have shown interest in signing him on a free transfer.
Meanwhile, Rashford remains under contract at Manchester United until 2028 and faces an awkward return if Barcelona doesn't finalise the deal. His £325,000-a-week wages don’t fit well within United’s current structure, which favours incentive-driven contracts with lower basic pay. That could create some tension behind the scenes.
WHY BARCELONA FAVORS KEEPING VETERAN ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI OVER FERRAN TORRES
Barcelona is ready to sell Ferran Torres to fund a move for Julian Alvarez while keeping Robert Lewandowski on a pay cut.
Barcelona is planning to reshape its attack this summer, focusing more on keeping veteran striker Robert Lewandowski than on Ferran Torres. The club is open to offers for the 26-year-old Spanish forward to raise funds that would support their efforts to bring in two new forwards and refresh the frontline.
Torres could be moved to generate transfer funds. ESPN reports that Barcelona is willing to consider offers for him as they try to finance their summer signings. Torres is under contract until 2027, making this transfer window a critical opportunity to secure a substantial fee. Although he has shown moments of promise, his performances have lacked consistency, and he hasn’t scored since late January. Over this season, he has netted 16 goals in 40 appearances. Head coach Hansi Flick remains confident in his dedication, but selling him would provide the financial flexibility needed to pursue higher-profile players.
On the other hand, Lewandowski seems more inclined to stay at Camp Nou. At 37, he’s reportedly prepared to take a pay cut to remain, prioritising his family’s stability despite interest from MLS’s Chicago Fire and various Saudi Pro League teams. When asked about his future by The Athletic, he admitted uncertainty, saying he hasn’t yet felt ready to decide and might take a few more months to settle on the best path.
Meanwhile, sporting director Deco is targeting ambitious signings to upgrade the squad. A deal for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez is reportedly underway, though it won’t come cheap. Barcelona is also trying to extend the loan of Marcus Rashford beyond the current spell. They have the option to buy the England international from Manchester United for €30 million, but are aiming to negotiate either a lower fee or a new loan arrangement. Ideally, Alvarez would slot in as the starting striker next season, which would reduce playing time for Torres.
Financially, Barcelona has been busy securing its young core, offering new contracts to talents like Gavi, Pedri, and Pau Cubarsi, with recent extensions for Eric Garcia and Fermin Lopez as well. However, they have not opened talks with Torres, indicating he may not be part of their long-term plans.
Lewandowski, for his part, is taking a patient approach. He noted that at his age and with his experience, there’s no rush to make a decision. “Maybe in three months is probably when I have to decide,” he said. “But still, I don’t have any stress.”
