In the world of sports management, Barcelona has done some homework on the business side, but the club’s financial planning still lags behind its on-pitch ambitions. For the new signings already tentatively welcomed, a clear salary framework must be outlined to keep the squad balanced while respecting overall budget constraints.
The approach to building this payroll hinges on boosting revenue. Options include the well-known leverage instrument that could be voted on at a special meeting on June 16, or alternatively generating funds by selling players. A third option now enters the discussion: asking current players to absorb further concessions on their compensation. This is a delicate path that the club must tread carefully.
against the clock
The sense of urgency grows as the transfer market accelerates. A handful of players have already shifted clubs, especially the most sought after talents. Barcelona must act decisively to satisfy coach Xavi, who wants to add a few essentials, yet the club feels paralyzed by uncertainty over how many players it can acquire and how much it can reasonably pay. The current salary cap sits around negative 144 million, and there is real risk of losing potential targets during this critical window.
Reducing salaries is part of the management’s strategy, with president Joan Laporta signaling in an interview with L Esportiu the willingness to take firm measures. Yet translating ideas into action is another matter entirely. The club is wary of imposing a universal cut that could spark locker room resistance; instead it leans toward individualized negotiations that reflect each player’s role and contributions, while pressing for swift progress to widen the financial margin.
replay
When a similar measure was used previously, it involved deferring payments and, in many cases, extending contracts. It left a memorable impression on captains and some of the top earners like Ter Stegen and De Jong. Laporta is weighing a similar move again. Expectations of a dramatic outcome and widespread locker room euphoria are not on the horizon this time around.
Meanwhile, the club’s commercial arm is negotiating the sale of 49.9 percent of the merchandising company and 25 percent of the television rights. The aim is to secure authorization from the board to proceed, helping to align the budget for the upcoming season and ease the salary bottleneck as quickly as possible. The merchandising operation is expected to inject around 200 million into the club’s coffers, though the exact mechanics remain under discussion.
with CVC
On the television front, Barcelona is weighing several offers. A potential link with the Impulse League, promoted by Javier Tebas and backed by CVC, has been floated as a means to frame the salary margin in a more palatable light. At the last board gathering in La Jonquera, internal disagreements emerged over a proposal that would entail debt and a long-term commitment of fifty years, a plan that had previously been rejected and that accompanied the difficult departure of a star. The Tebas route is not considered the only path and other funding options could total around 270 million. It remains to be seen whether any option would require a comparable salary adjustment to Tebas’s plan, which might unlock roughly 40 million. Players such as Christensen could be pivotal in enabling late signings for Kessié, Marcos Alonso, or Azpilicueta should opportunities arise, with a hypothetical Lewandowski scenario depending on a Bayern deal. The club remains cautious, aware that time is running out.
In parallel, the club has repeated discussions about the structure of its business operations. A renewed focus on optimizing the balance sheet continues to be a priority as it seeks to support the squad while maintaining competitive performance on the field. The leadership team remains vigilant about preserving team harmony, even as it explores bold financial moves to close the gap before the end of June. Attribution: Barcelona management records and press communications.