Barca debt could wreck deals for Cesc and Torres
Published 23:00 07/07/10 By Daniel Maddock
Barcelona are suffering a financial crisis that threatens to wreck their pursuit of Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano.
New Barca president Sandro Rosell has even been forced to deny they are bankrupt, after borrowing almost £120million to pay players’ wages this week. Spiralling costs and a slump in revenue are the problem, with the latest blow a potential loss of TV money, after Mediaproduccion SL, which owns the Spanish rights, sought protection against bankruptcy.
Barca have just sold Dmytro Chygrynskiy back to Shakhtar Donetsk for around £12m – £10m less than they paid for him a year ago – to raise cash.
Team boss Pep Guardiola admitted: “I still believe in the player, but he had no chance to stay due to financial problems.”
Rosell said: “We have a short-term problem and need the loans to finance our short-term obligations such as wages, but supporters and members can relax, we are not bankrupt.”
But clearly the cash crisis puts their ability to enter this summer’s transfer market in doubt.
Barca have pursued Fabregas since the end of the season and most Arsenal fans had resigned themselves to seeing their star midfielder leaving for Catalonia.
But Gunners boss Arsene Wenger always maintained Fabregas was under contract and only a massive bid could prise him away. Rosell himself poured doubt on the transfer now happening, when he admitted Barca could not pay Arsenal’s asking price.
He said: “There is no possibility of us paying 50-60million euros for Fabregas. The worst possible thing that could have happened is there was publicity over the possible deal, because it makes it very hard under these circumstances.”
Barca have a seven-year £800m contract with Mediaproduccion but with no guarantees over payments that are now due. Rivals Real Madrid have their own financial headaches but have bank guarantees supporting their TV deal.
This lack of cash in Spain means that Liverpool’s Torres and Mascherano will also probably stay put at Anfield.
