FC Barcelona finds itself embroiled in yet another legal battle as the club races against time to secure the long-term registrations of summer signings Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor. With their temporary registrations set to expire on Dec. 31, the Catalan giants have taken the extraordinary step of appealing to the courts in a bid to circumvent LaLiga’s stringent financial regulations.
Barcelona’s Spending Limit Woes
At the heart of Barcelona’s registration dilemma lies the club’s precarious financial situation. Saddled with a spending limit of €426 million for the season, the club currently finds itself approximately €60 million in excess of this cap, according to sources close to the matter. This fiscal quagmire has left Barcelona scrambling to find creative solutions to register Olmo and Víctor beyond the rapidly approaching deadline.
Christensen Injury Opens Door for Temporary Registrations
The temporary registrations of Olmo and Víctor were initially granted in August, thanks to a LaLiga rule that allows clubs to register players in the event that a squad member is ruled out for at least four months. In this case, Andreas Christensen’s injury provided the necessary loophole for Barcelona to secure the short-term services of their summer acquisitions.
Barcelona managed to push through Olmo and Victor’s registrations in August by appealing to a LaLiga rule that allows players to be registered if another player in the squad is ruled out for at least four months.
– Source close to the situation
Exploring Legal Avenues and Revenue Boosts
Faced with the imminent expiration of these temporary registrations, Barcelona has launched a multi-pronged approach to secure Olmo and Víctor’s long-term eligibility. Central to this strategy is the club’s appeal to the courts, where they will argue that denying the players’ registrations would infringe upon workers’ rights in Spain. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 23, with the club hopeful of receiving a favorable response by Dec. 27.
Simultaneously, Barcelona continues to explore alternative avenues to create space within their spending cap. The club recently announced a lucrative new deal with kit supplier Nike, which is expected to provide a much-needed revenue boost. However, this agreement must first be approved by the club’s members in a vote scheduled for Saturday, and sources indicate that the additional income alone will not be sufficient to bring Barcelona back into compliance with LaLiga’s financial fair play regulations.
The Ter Stegen Conundrum
Further complicating matters is the injury status of goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. Barcelona had hoped to register additional players in place of the German international, but LaLiga has pushed back, noting that the club has already signed Wojciech Szczęsny as a replacement. This leaves the Blaugrana with limited options as they seek to maintain the services of their prized summer acquisitions.
A Race Against Time
As the clock ticks down to the Dec. 31 deadline, Barcelona finds itself in a precarious position. The club’s hierarchy, led by president Joan Laporta, is acutely aware of the potential sporting and financial ramifications should they fail to secure the long-term registrations of Olmo and Víctor. The coming days will prove pivotal, as the club’s legal team works tirelessly to present a compelling case before the courts.
For now, Barcelona fans and the football world at large are left to wait with bated breath, as the fate of two of the club’s most promising young talents hangs in the balance. The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the players involved but for the future of the Catalan giants as they navigate the treacherous waters of LaLiga’s financial landscape.
