Saudi Arabia Eyes Major Financial Partnership with Barcelona
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Barcelona is reportedly in discussions with Saudi Arabia regarding a potentially lucrative “football collaboration,” aimed at addressing the club’s ongoing financial issues. These financial troubles have been prominent since the coronavirus pandemic, exacerbated by the departure of club legend Lionel Messi due to registration problems.
To fund their summer 2022 transfer activities, Barcelona sold various club assets, sacrificing long-term stability for immediate financial relief. While signings like Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha contributed to winning the 2022/23 La Liga title, Barcelona couldn’t make significant additions the following season and ultimately lost their crown to Real Madrid.
The club is now considering selling players to create financial flexibility for new signings. According to SPORT, Saudi Arabia might play a key role in this process. Saudi Pro League clubs could potentially acquire fringe players like Ansu Fati and Clement Lenglet, though convincing these players to move remains a challenge.
There is also talk of selling key players such as Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Jules Kounde to generate significant profit. Raphinha is another potential transfer target for the Pro League, although sporting director Deco is not inclined to force him out.
Beyond player transfers, Barcelona is exploring additional business opportunities with Saudi Arabia, including sponsorships and other collaborations. Interest from “powerful companies” in the Middle East could help alleviate Barcelona’s financial difficulties.