FC Barcelona is groaning under a horrific burden of debt. But President Joan Laporta believes the worst is almost over.
President Joan Laporta of struggling giants FC Barcelona is adamant that the Catalans’ financial woes will soon be resolved, at least for the most part. “If we implement the two options that we want to address by June 30th, then we will have solved a large part of the club’s economic problems,” Laporta told Catalunya Radio.
Specifically, the 59-year-old means the sale of 49 percent of the club’s Barca Studios and the merchandising department and ten percent of the audiovisual rights to the financial company CVC. “Working with CVC guarantees financial fair play. But there are other financial options that we can explore. This combined gives us the ability to proceed as planned,” he explained.
Spotify and Co.: Barcelona will soon be healthy again?
Most recently, the club also made headlines by signing a massive sponsorship deal with the music streaming service Spotify. The company name will be emblazoned on the Blaugrana jerseys from next season, and the Camp Nou stadium will be renamed ‘Spotify Camp Nou’. Barca should earn almost 300 million euros over a period of four years.
Under the leadership of ex-president Josep Maria Bartomeu, mismanagement and the corona pandemic drove Barcelona to an incredible debt level of 1.3 billion euros. Among other things, this led to the departure of superstar Lionel Messi, as the club could not afford to extend the contract with the club legend.
A phase of sporting reconstruction followed, which has not yet been completed. “If we can implement the financial options we are looking for, no player has to go for financial reasons,” Laporta clarified.
He was vague about Ousmane Dembele’s possible whereabouts. “I think Dembele wants to stay but he’s tempted by other options. We have a good relationship and he’s very happy here. His agent controls the situation. I hope he stays but if not, we’ll find someone else find for his position,” he said.
