Barcelona is reportedly negotiating with Saudi Arabia regarding a potential football partnership. The Spanish club’s financial distress is no secret, having started during the COVID-19 pandemic and exacerbated by the departure of iconic player Lionel Messi, when the team could not afford to register his contract. To fund player acquisitions in the summer of 2022, Barcelona had to liquidate certain assets, which was akin to mortgaging the club’s future for immediate financial relief. Despite this strategy bringing in talents like Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, and winning the 2022/23 La Liga title, the club faced the inevitability of losing their top position to Real Madrid the following season due to financial limitations.
Current predictions from Barcelona indicate the likelihood of player sales to generate the necessary capital for new signings. Yet, there could be a silver lining as SPORT magazine suggests that Saudi Arabia may offer a lifeline in several forms.
- Saudi Pro League teams might propose taking on lesser-utilized players like Ansu Fati and Clement Lenglet, although convincing these athletes to relocate remains a hurdle.
- Alternatively, selling star players to Saudi Arabian teams could yield significant returns. Names like Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Jules Kounde have been mentioned, with Raphinha also a possible candidate, although there is no indication of him being pushed out by sporting director Deco.
In addition to player transactions, Barcelona is exploring wider business opportunities with Saudi entities, considering sponsorships and other forms of collaboration. With interest from major Middle Eastern corporations in the Barcelona brand, this alliance might signal the end of the club’s fiscal troubles.