Barça is fighting against the clock to register the five signings (Christensen, Koundé, Kessie, Raphinha and Lewandowski) and the two ‘renewed’ (Sergi Roberto and Dembélé) before the debut in the League against Rayo. It is an agonizing countdown to achieve financial ‘fair play’. The club activated the fourth lever yesterday, the sale of the other 24.5 percent of Barça Studios to GDA Luma, which represents an extraordinary income of 100 million euros. But it’s not enough. That is why intense work is being done on the ‘exit operation’ and, above all, on the ‘rebate operation’. Mateu Alemany continues to negotiate the transfer, assignment or even termination of the contract of Umtiti, Braithwaite and Memphis, at the same time that meetings are held to adjust the salaries of Busquets and Piqué. A separate case is De Jong. With the Dutchman, two options are being considered: either a significant decrease in the record or sale. The problem is that the midfielder is not willing to accept either of the two alternatives.
Barça has until August 31 to register the players for the official competitions of the 2022-23 season, but the League starts on Saturday and there is a serious danger that several of these seven players may not be under Xavi’s orders . It is not an easy scenario for the Blaugrana managers. That also contrasts with the euphoria unleashed by the team’s performance in the preseason and, especially, after Gamper’s offensive display. Laporta insists on sending a message of calm: the club’s economy has been restored in record time. But LaLiga’s criteria are different, especially restrictive, and that disparity endangers all the great work done in the last month and a half.
First title of the season at stake
Tonight, in Helsinki, Madrid and Eintracht will play the European Super Cup. The Whites, after last season’s surprising double, are the big favorites to win the first trophy of the 2022-23 season. Ancelotti, with only two signings (Rüdiger and Tchouameni), bets on the block that made him win the League and the Champions League, with the veteran trident formed by Modric, Kroos and Benzema as the protagonist. Madrid was left without the dreamed of Mbappé and not a single euro has been spent on reinforcing their attack, where Vinicius and Rodrigo will have more and more prominence, waiting for Hazard’s ‘resurrection’. We will see if that is enough for them to continue reigning in Spain and in Europe.