With big transfers, FC Barcelona is attracting attention this summer. Whether the new professionals will appear at the start of the league is still questionable a few days before. The financially troubled club have so far failed to meet the requirements to register the newcomers.
Mes que un club? More than one club? Not in a long time! Robert Lewandowski is still not registered for the league start in Spain on Saturday. There is talk of defamation and blackmail at the once proud FC Barcelona. And the football world has long wondered how the traditional club could sign new stars at all with a debt of more than one billion euros.
Actually, Barça wanted to usher in a new era with world footballer Lewandowski after years of mixed sport and finally push arch-rival Real Madrid off the throne again - but before the start against Rayo Vallecano there was more of sheer chaos. In the last few weeks, the Catalans have already sold their silverware to be solvent at all. Lewandowski had promised so much from his move from Bayern Munich to Spain. He was "the perfect next step in my life and career," said the goalscorer. At the presentation, President Joan Laporta raved about a "historic day" for Barça.
And now? Coach Xavi and the fans continue to tremble about the simple registration for Lewandowski and the additions of Raphina (Leeds), Jules Kounde (Sevilla), Franck Kessie (Milan) and Andreas Christensen (Chelsea). To do this, however, the clammy club has to balance the salary budget in order to meet the requirements of La Liga. He's "not worried," he thinks "everything is on the right track," said Lewandowski. After all, he enjoys priority with those responsible. "If we could only register one," Laporta said, "Robert would be the first."
But the situation is muddled - and the Dutchman Frenkie de Jong is at the center of a real mud fight. Barça absolutely wants to remove him from the payroll in order to gain some financial freedom. But the 25-year-old does not want to change, among other things, Manchester United should be interested. Recently, Barcelona have probably increased the pressure on de Jong. The club is said to have even threatened legal action to "convince" the midfielder to at least cut his salary.
De Jong, in turn, allegedly accuses Barça of a "smear campaign" and even "extortion". "Mundo Deportivo" and "Sport" want to have learned this from the professional's environment. Now his agent is said to have arrived in Barcelona. There is a lot that needs to be clarified. Barcelona have been making the headlines for weeks. Even Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann had his thoughts. "This is the only club in the world that has no money but buys any player they want," he said.
The energetic Laporta, who dreams of repeating the golden era of Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi, countered. "It's true we were in an ominous situation but we're back," he claimed. Return? With a debt of 1.35 billion euros, this was partly only possible with a daring anticipation of the future. US investor Sixth Street will pay 207.5 million for ten percent of the income from the league TV rights over the next 25 years. Another 15 percent are said to bring in over 300 million, 49.99 percent of "Barca Licensing
That raises questions. "As you can read, Barcelona has sold its TV rights, among other things, and can obviously afford it," said Gennaro Gattuso, new coach of FC Valencia, the "Kicker". Although he doesn't work for the league board, "yes, it's difficult to explain all this, and that's how we can definitely agree". As a matter of fact.
