The La Liga 1:1 rule is letting Barcelona spend more money than they have in years since Lionel Messi left.
Here’s why Barcelona can now spend over £150 million on Anthony Gordon and other targets.
Barcelona is one of the biggest football clubs in the world, but in recent years, they’ve faced serious money problems. Last summer, new signing Marcus Rashford had to wait before officially joining because the club struggled to register players due to La Liga’s salary rules.
So, many were surprised when reports came out that Barcelona had agreed to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United for £70 million plus bonuses. Before heading to North America to play for England at the World Cup, Gordon came to Barcelona for a medical and is set to double his salary to around £300,000 a week.
Less than a day later, Barcelona confirmed they are preparing an offer for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. The former Manchester City forward is seen as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who is leaving. The club plans to make a straight cash bid around €100 million (£86.7 million), with no player swaps.
With over £150 million spent even before the summer transfer window opens on June 15, many are wondering how Barcelona went from financial trouble to being able to spend big.
After some tough transfer seasons, Barcelona has finally met La Liga’s 1:1 financial rule. This rule means the club can only spend what they earn through selling players or cutting wages, giving them more freedom to sign new players.
A big reason for this change is Lewandowski’s departure, which freed up about €40 million (£34.7 million) in wages. Also, Barcelona’s return to their stadium, Camp Nou, will bring in extra income. Because of this, the club’s board feels confident their money problems are behind them.
Barcelona isn’t planning to stop after Gordon and Alvarez. These two are just part of four major signings the club wants to make this summer, aiming to match the huge €365 million (£316.5 million) spent in 2017–18 when they signed Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele.
When the Gordon deal was announced, many thought this meant Marcus Rashford’s time at Barcelona was over, despite his good performances. But the club still hopes to keep Rashford and will continue talks for a permanent deal this summer.
Another loan player likely to stay is Joao Cancelo, a former Manchester City player now with Saudi club Al-Hilal but who played on loan at Barcelona this season.
It’s also expected that Bernardo Silva, leaving Manchester City as a free agent, will join Barcelona soon, adding another former City player to their squad.
Finally, with the squad refreshed, Barcelona plans to focus on signing a new defender. A center back is the top priority, but if Jules Kounde leaves, they may look for a new full-back instead, with Denzel Dumfries being a possible option.