FC Barcelona’s Goalkeeper Situation
In a significant development for FC Barcelona, goalkeeper Joan García will be eligible to play in the team’s season opener against Mallorca this Saturday. This comes after LaLiga authorized the club to utilize salary cap space initially assigned to Marc-André ter Stegen, who is sidelined due to injury.
Although Barça remains over the financial fair play limits set by LaLiga, the regulations permit the registration of new acquisitions to replace players who are injured for an extended period.
Injury Regulations and Implications
LaLiga defines an extended injury period as approximately four months, and it was determined by a committee on Wednesday that Ter Stegen’s persistent back issue falls within this category. Barcelona had employed a similar workaround in the previous season, when they secured Dani Olmo’s registration in light of Andreas Christensen’s injury.
The recent decision has seemingly resolved an ongoing disagreement between Ter Stegen and the club. Initially, the German goalkeeper suggested that his back surgery would only sideline him for about three months. Nevertheless, he ultimately signed the official injury document after losing the captaincy temporarily.
With this situation clarified, García, who joined Barcelona from local rivals Espanyol for €25 million, will officially be listed as part of the squad as the Spanish champions commence their title defense this weekend.
Future Player Registrations
In related news, ESPN has reported that Barcelona’s leadership is actively working on a €7 million guarantee against future revenue to facilitate the registration of additional players, including new signings like Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji, as well as defender Gerard Martín, who is anticipated to sign a new contract soon.
FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reassured fans of the club’s commitment to realigning with LaLiga’s financial regulations this summer.
Board Decisions and Financial Commitments
While awaiting the approval for various transactions, including the sale of exclusive seats at the revamped Spotify Camp Nou, the board convened on Wednesday and agreed to establish a guarantee. This assurance serves as a commitment from the directors to cover a specified sum should the club fail to meet its financial commitments.
LaLiga accepts such guarantees as alternative investment, allowing Barcelona a temporary increase in their spending flexibility, akin to having ready cash on hand.
