FC Barcelona made quite the splash during this current transfer window by snapping up Manchester City’s young star Ferran Torres, but the financial issues at the club still persist. After having to say goodbye to Lionel Messi for free over the summer due to their mismanagement of funds, a summer which saw them only able to acquire players through free transfers, their latest issue was being able to register their newest acquisition Ferran Torres. While Barcelona’s financial liquidity issues have eased, a fact made clear by the €55 million price they paid for Torres, La Liga’s salary limits meant they were struggling to find a way to register their shiny new acquisition to play.
In the end, Barca CEO Mateu Alemany made it work. On Monday, the club announced that they had reached a contract agreement with center back Samuel Umtiti through 2026, giving him a new five year contract worth the same amount as the salary that he was due to receive in the year and a half remaining on his current deal. Shortly after, the club announced that through the contract extension, Barca were able to increase their financial fair play quota, allowing them to register Torres with the Spanish Professional Football League. That now mean’s he is eligible to play for the club in official matches, and that his debut could come in the Spanish Super Cup this week. Barca face Real Madrid on Tuesday in the semifinals with the final on Sunday.
FC Barcelona wishes to publicly express its gratitude to Samuel Umtiti for his willingness and the affection that he has demonstrated towards the club. Through this contract extension, FC Barcelona will be able to increase its ‘financial fair play’ quota and thus register Ferran Torres with the Spanish Professional Football League.
Obviously having their new attack is big to the team’s second half of the season under new manager Xavi. Barca find themselves in sixth place in the league but just one point off the back four. As a club regularly participating in the UEFA Champions League, making the top four would be seen as the short-term goal. Barca were bounced from the UCL group stage this season and will participate in the Europa League round of 32, where they’ll face Napoli in February. The Spanish club can also qualify for the UCL next season by winning this season’s Europa League.
