From crisis to control – How Barcelona built their pillars for the future | OneFootball

Barcelona have made a remarkable transformation from being financially constrained and struggling to register players under La Liga’s Financial Fair Play rules to building a strong and sustainable foundation for the future.

This shift has not happened overnight. It is the result of careful planning, smart execution, and above all, a deep belief in the talent emerging from La Masia.

Not too long ago, Barça were grappling with severe financial limitations. But instead of relying solely on big-money transfers, the club made a conscious decision to invest in its academy products, players seen as key building blocks for both the present and the future.

This season, that strategy has truly come to life.

From financial struggles to strategic stability

It all began with a series of well-thought-out contract extensions that secured the services of a group of promising youngsters.

The list includes Alejandro Balde, Fermin Lopez, Hector Fort, Marc Casado, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Bernal, Gerard Martin, and, of course, Gavi. Each of them has shown signs of being an essential piece in the evolving Barça project.

But the biggest move of all came with the renewal of Lamine Yamal, one of the brightest talents in world football today.

His contract now runs until 2031, symbolising the club’s commitment to building around homegrown brilliance while maintaining financial sanity.

Yamal and Hansi Flick – The faces of the new era

Barcelona have erected the pillars for a strong future. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Interestingly, Lamine’s renewal was completed just days after the appointment of Hansi Flick as head coach until 2027.

Together, they represent the new face of Barça, youth blended with elite experience and tactical clarity.

Yamal’s contract extension was the result of months of negotiations, carefully structured around the club’s new wage scale to avoid repeating past mistakes of inflating salaries.

Barcelona were keen to reward performance and potential without placing the future at risk. It was a balancing act, one they have managed exceptionally well.

A strong core for a promising future

Barça’s plan has always been about patience and sustainability, qualities the club has not always embraced in recent years. But this time, there is a noticeable change.

By tying down core academy graduates to long-term contracts, Cubarsi and Fermin until 2029, Casado and Fort also until 2029, Bernal and Balde until 2028, and now Yamal until 2031, Barcelona have laid down a clear foundation.

This is not just a youth revolution; it is a smart, strategic evolution. Slowly but surely, Barça are building a team designed not just to compete, but to dominate in the long run. And it all starts with believing in their own.