Barcelona suffer a huge blow in their bid to sign Haaland as LaLiga say they are £120 million over

LaLiga announced squad-spending limits for all 20 clubs on Monday and Barcelona's balance is now minus €144m.

Mar 15, 2022 - 10:10

Barcelona suffer a huge blow in their bid to sign Haaland as LaLiga say they are £120 million over

Barcelona-Haaland

Barcelona have been dealt a huge blow in their bid to beat Manchester City to the signing of Erling Haaland this summer after LaLiga announced new spending limits for Spain's 20 top-flight clubs.

Barca have been told that their current spending on the squad is £121million (€144m) over the permitted limit and they can only spend if they generate four times as much via sales and savings.

LaLiga announced squad-spending limits for all 20 clubs on Monday and Barcelona's balance is now minus €144m.

Article 100 of LaLiga's financial fair play rules allows clubs with a negative spending limit to apply a 1:4 ratio to their financial transactions. That means they can spend €1 if they generate €4.

Barcelona have estimated that the signing of Haaland would cost them £42m (€50m) a year for the next five years. So to spend €50m they will need to generate £168m (€200m) this summer.

That money can come from the sale of players such as Antoine Griezmann, who is currently on loan at Atletico Madrid, and Philippe Coutinho, currently on loan at Aston Villa.

Or it could come from a new sponsorship deal such as the long mooted stadium naming rights deal with Spotify.

Or by making a deal with CVC, the investment fund that struck a deal with all LaLiga clubs apart from Barcelona and Real Madrid at the start of the season.

The Catalan giants can only spend if they generate four times as much via sales and savings

Barcelona's situation could improve if such deals with Spotify or CVC are confirmed but LaLiga warned that accepting CVC would release around £38m (€45m) to be spent on the squad. That would still leave Barcelona at minus £83m (€99m) and needing to lean on article 100 to bring in players.

Barcelona's plight will also affect their ability to sign Adama Traore permanently. The player is valued at around £25m (€30m) and will not be viewed as a priority this summer unless Barcelona can reach an agreement with Wolves, who currently have Francisco Trincao on loan from Barcelona.

Squad spend limits are calculated by working out the difference between projected income and projected outgoings according to numbers provided by the clubs themselves as well as from La Liga and UEFA.

But losses in previous seasons are also factored into the equation and this is where Barcelona continue to suffer despite losing top earner Lionel Messi from the wage bill last summer.

Squad spend limits are calculated by LaLiga by working out the difference between projected income and projected outgoings

SPENDING LIMITS FOR SQUADS IN LALIGA (ALL IN €)

Barcelona: -144m

Athletic Bilbao: 124m

Espanyol: 79m

Real Madrid: 739m

Atletico Madrid: 161m

Sevilla: 199m

Real Betis: 61m

Real Sociedad: 111m

Levante: 34m

Cadiz: 47m