Reason why Nike’s support falls short in helping Barcelona register summer signing- report

Barcelona’s renewed sponsorship deal with Nike is all but confirmed, yet it falls short of solving the club’s ongoing financial challenges. 

Despite extended talks, this updated agreement will not enable the club to comply with La Liga’s 1:1 financial rule, meaning Barcelona still cannot fully control their spending within the league’s strict financial limits, reports SPORT. 

One clear example of Barcelona’s financial struggle is the situation with Dani Olmo. Due to financial restrictions, Barça have faced complications in registering him for the season, a task that remains complex under current circumstances. 

Why can Barcelona not register Olmo?

The new agreement with Nike does offer improved terms, but it won’t be enough on its own to bring the club in line with fair play rules or provide the flexibility to register Olmo. 

According to recent estimates, the club is short by approximately €35 million, a gap they need to bridge to accommodate existing and future player registrations.

From 2024 to 2028, Barcelona’s deal with Nike is set to bring in an additional €45 million per season. However, under financial fair play, Barça can only count €10 million from this sum for the current season since the rest has been pre-budgeted. 

This leaves the club looking for alternative solutions to achieve the 1:1 rule, which would allow them greater control over spending.

Barcelona working on alternatives

One potential solution Barça are considering involves securing a new investor for Bridgeburg. Valued at €408 million, Barcelona put 49% of Bridgeburg’s shares up for sale, aiming to raise €200 million. 

So far, they have received €55 million, while the remaining €145 million is yet to be collected. This potential investment would significantly boost their finances, easing restrictions and enabling more player registrations. 

Alternatively, Barcelona may look at player transfers to bring in additional income, which would help reduce their wage bill and create room for new player registrations. With two interested investors in talks, the club is hopeful to close a deal by year-end.