Just before the start of the season, FC Barcelona is trying to raise fresh money for the playing permit of world footballer Lewandowski.
The wait for the playing permit for world footballer Robert Lewandowski and other expensive new arrivals at FC Barcelona is becoming more and more of a nail-biter. Even one day before the first league match of the heavily indebted club in the new season on Saturday evening, it was unclear whether the former Bayern goal scorer as well as Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie would be allowed to play at all. The same applied to Ousmane Dembélé and Sergi Roberto, whose contracts were renewed.
For Barça, despite selling some of its silverware, has so far failed to meet the financial fair play rules of the league. On Friday, the Catalans announced that they had sold 24.5 per cent of the shares in Barça Studios to Orpheus Media for 100 million euros in what was already the fourth transaction of this kind. The originally planned sale of the shares in the club’s production company to another company had apparently failed due to legal and administrative problems. It was initially unclear whether it would now be enough for registration.
In addition to the sale of club assets, the salary mass could also be reduced. In the case of Dutch international Frenkie de Jong, both sides are engaged in a mudslinging match over this. Barça is dissatisfied with the midfielder’s performance and wants to sell him for as much money as possible. Or drastically cut his salary. But the Dutchman refuses both and, according to the media, accused his employer of blackmail. He has already fallen out of favour with some fans. They accuse him of disloyal behaviour, and in some cases have mobbed de Jong in the street.
Mundo Deportivo” wrote that the league now feared that the Barça officials would not submit the documents necessary for registration until Saturday. Decisions of great significance would then have to be made without sufficient time for examination.
The only consolation for the Catalans: In the first league match on Saturday at the Camp Nou (9 p.m.) against Rayo Vallecano from Madrid, it could go without the top stars if necessary. However, if the registration has not taken place by the end of the summer transfer window, which closes in Spain on 1 September, Lewandowski and Co. cannot be used at least until the winter transfer period.