Barcelona president Joan Laporta has defended the club’s financial management following criticism over their handling of player registrations, specifically those of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor. The controversy arose after Barcelona initially failed to meet LaLiga’s financial requirements to register the two players for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Financial Hurdles and Registration Issues
Barcelona has faced strict financial controls imposed by LaLiga due to the club’s ongoing economic challenges. For the 2024-25 season, Barcelona’s salary cap was set at €426 million, significantly lower than Real Madrid’s €755 million.
Olmo and Victor, who joined Barcelona in the summer, were temporarily registered but risked being sidelined after the December 31 financial deadline passed without the club meeting LaLiga’s requirements. Both the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga blocked their registrations, citing non-compliance.
Barcelona turned to Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD), which overturned the decision and allowed the players to be provisionally registered.
Laporta’s Defense of Financial Strategy
Speaking at a press conference, Laporta outlined the steps taken to address the financial shortfall, including new sponsorship deals and asset sales:
- VIP Boxes Sale: Laporta revealed a deal to sell Camp Nou’s VIP boxes to Middle Eastern investors.
- Nike Kit Deal: Barcelona negotiated a seven-year kit sponsorship deal with Nike, which Laporta claimed would triple the previous revenue from the partnership.
Laporta stated:
“We submitted the documentation on December 27. We thought we had the break-even on December 31, but LaLiga asked us for additional requirements that were not initially included. There was no improvisation. We had a detailed strategic plan from the outset.”
He also praised the work of the club’s executives, adding:
“The contract with Nike triples what we were charging and would have been done regardless of the Financial Fair Play requirements.”
LaLiga and Club Criticism
LaLiga has openly opposed the CSD’s intervention, arguing that it undermines the league’s financial regulations and sets a dangerous precedent. The league has confirmed its intention to appeal the ruling.
Several clubs have also voiced concerns about the government’s involvement, claiming it could destabilize the competitive balance of Spanish football.
The Road Ahead
While Barcelona has temporarily resolved the registration issues for Olmo and Victor, the situation underscores the fragile financial state of the club. With scrutiny from LaLiga and criticism from rival clubs, Barcelona’s financial dealings are likely to remain a contentious issue in the coming months.
Laporta, however, remains confident in his approach, emphasizing the long-term benefits of the club’s new commercial agreements.
