Barcelona advances in negotiations with unnamed investor
Barcelona advances in negotiations with unnamed investor. FC Barcelona are reported to be in advanced talks with a new investor to generate much-needed cash into the club’s Barca Vision project.
The Catalan giants’ financial problems have been infamous in recent years, with the lack of available cash hindering their ability to improve their squad during recent transfer windows. Barca have been working to secure more money to ease their economic woes and one boost may arrive under Bridgeburg Invest, the holding company of Barca Vision.
RAC1 claim one of the club’s current priorities is on raising significant funding for Vision. The club had hoped for around €200m (£167m), but only €65m (£54m) has been brought in so far, with Aramark providing €40m (£33m) of that sum.
Barcelona are said to be in advanced talks with an unnamed suitor as they look to fund their behind-the-scenes project, which they say will include Web3, NFTs and the metaverse.
Dani Olmo and Nico Williams emerged as major transfer targets during the summer window after their starring performances at Euro 2024. However, while the midfielder was eventually snapped up for €62m (£52m), the Athletic Club winger remained in the Basque country due to the lack of funds to further improve Hansi Flick‘s sqaud.
Pau Victor was signed for a small fee, while Wojciech Szczesny has recently arrived on a free transfer, but otherwise Barca have made minimal splashes in the market as they seek to drag themselves out of their financial hole.
Cost-cutting measures, including getting rid of midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to reduce the wage bill, saw Barca lower their outgoing total salaries from €670m (£557m) to €500m (£415m) but the club still recently announced a loss of €91m (£75m).
A recent club statement reads:
“As for extraordinary results, the club has recorded a write-off of certain receivables related to the actions of Bridgeburg Invest, S.L. due to non-payment by some of the participating investors.
“Pursuant to accounting principles, the club must record this potential default as a precaution, notwithstanding under any circumstances the right to collect the amount in the future or take the necessary actions. The amount recognised as an extraordinary expense totals €141m before taxes.
“The club believes there are sufficient grounds for the current valuation of the company and remains confident in its future viability and capacities, with a business plan in place that should generate recurring revenue in the near future.
“Therefore, and despite the positive ordinary result, the club closes the 2023/24 consolidated accounts with a net result of -€91m.”
