Barcelona hopeful of generating enough revenue to move for priority target – report | OneFootball

According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are hopeful that they can generate enough revenue and boost their Financial Fair Play situation to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Club this summer.

The club is increasingly confident that bringing in Nico could significantly bolster their squad. Currently, Barcelona are gathering information and crunching numbers to determine if his signing fits within their financial plans for the remaining weeks of the transfer window.

Despite ongoing financial challenges, Barcelona have not yet finalised any deals to offset the departure of the German investment fund Libero, which provided €40 million last season and is slated for another €60 million this season.

Additionally, negotiations with Nike for a new lucrative sponsorship deal have not been concluded. However, Barcelona remain optimistic that positive developments will emerge this month.

Barcelona are doing their homework

Sources within Barcelona have indicated that they are confident about proceeding with a transfer that would comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, estimating a cost between €25 to €30 million per season.

Barcelona are hopeful of signing Nico Williams this summer. (Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images)

According to Barcelona’s calculations, signing Nico could fit within this budget if they commit to a six-year contract, paying his €58 million release clause and offering a salary slightly higher than his current earnings at Athletic.

However, for these financial plans to succeed, Barcelona must return to the 1:1 rule and spread out the transfer cost over six years.

The challenge arises if Barcelona exceed their financial limits, triggering Article 100 of La Liga regulations, which would require the transfer fee to be amortised over a shorter period, making their financial calculations less feasible.

Why are Barcelona hopeful?

At Barcelona, they are aware of the potential costs associated with the operation and are convinced that Nico’s €58 million release clause suggests he has considered leaving Athletic Club.

In fact, factors such as the advocacy of his friend Lamine Yamal and Barcelona’s global media reach could influence his choice.

Barcelona acknowledge that if Nico prioritises financial gains, other clubs with significant financial backing, such as PSG or some Premier League clubs, might outbid them.

Despite this, Barcelona believe they can offer competitive terms within their financial capacity, emphasizing that his representatives are aware of their limitations compared to clubs backed by wealthy states.