How Barcelona Can Afford to Remain Competitive in the Transfer Window

Barcelona are over £1billion in debt, are said to be unable to pay player’s wages and yet they continue to bring in some of Europe’s top players. 

The core of the Blaugrana’s problems stem from their crooked former president Josep Bartomeu, who’s tenure as the club’s head honcho was underlined by fraudulent dealings and unrealistic transfers that have sent seismic ripples still being felt by the club today.

Returning president Joan Laporta has done extremely well to steady the ship after it looked as if the club may spiral into a genuine threat of liquidation. During his second spell at the club in which he was elected last year, he has utilised the free transfer market very effectively having brought in Eric Garcia and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last season, before adding Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen to that list this summer.

However, he has had to strip the soul of the club down to its core, literally and figuratively. First Lionel Messi’s shock exit, now selling the naming rights to the Nou Camp for the first time in its history, the Spaniard has been gutsy in his approach to securing the long term future of the club.

But still the question remains, particularly with Raphinha and now likely Robert Lewandowski joining the ranks, how are they able to afford to bring in fresh faces this summer?

Barcelona are literally mortgaging the future to win a transfer window. Incredible

— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) July 12, 2022

Spotify and Economic Levers

While neither Spotify nor Barcelona confirmed the economic value of their new partnership, it is believed to be worth around £235m. This is indeed a huge cash injection, but is simultaneously a drop in the ocean when comparing it to their financial shortcomings.

The global music company will not only feature as the club’s main shirt sponsor, they have also claimed the naming rights for the Nou Camp, which will now have the word ‘Spotify’ stuck in front of it.

However, this is just one among a handful of initiatives set in motion by the new board, the most notable of which being the introduction of two palancas, or “economic levers.”

The first of which was an attempt to offload a portion of the astronomical television rights paid for by LaLiga TV. They recently sold 10% (they are prepared to let this figure rise to 25%) of the money they are due to make from their league TV rights…