“Magically injecting capital is not a sustainable path”- PSG President takes dig over Barcelona’s €200 million summer spending
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In a speech on UEFA’s renewal of Financial Fair Play, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi cautioned football teams from “magically pouring wealth.” Al-Khelaifi, who serves as the president of the European Club Association (ECA), expressed his worries at an ECA assembly in Istanbul with apparent reference to Barcelona.
In order to finance their summer transfer activity, which included the signing of players like Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, and Raphinha among others, Barcelona used a number of economic levers, including the sale of television and imaging rights over the subsequent years.
La Blaugrana’s summer splurge, which included numerous free transfers, aroused questions because the team frequently struggled to acquire new players and often had to go to great lengths to close deals. The PSG president approved of evolving business practices: “The new financial sustainability rules are a positive development. The rules control costs.”
“They encourage investment and new investors. They will help ensure the sustainability of football. But we have to be careful; dangerous levels of debt and magically injecting capital is not a sustainable path. We have to think long term, not short term.”
Read More: PSG ‘happy’ to give contract extension to Sergio Ramos despite poor attendance
How were Barcelona able to raise more than €200 million for transfers this summer?
Prior to the summer transfer window, it was widely believed that Barcelona were in serious financial difficulties and on their last legs. After all, the club was deeply in debt, and recovery within a few months appeared inconceivable.
However, when the summer transfer window started, Barcelona made some of the most incredible deals. The Catalans managed to make the unthinkable happen with the additions of Robert Lewandowski, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, and Raphinha, among others.
Barcelona raised a total of almost €700 million by selling 49% of Barca Studios and 25% of their domestic broadcast rights for the following 25 years. In contrast to their 2021 summer spending, when financial restraint prevented them from keeping Lionel Messi at the club. As a result, PSG was able to sign the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner for free.
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Sujeeth Shetty
(766 Articles Published)