Cash-Strapped Barcelona Cannot Register Ferran Torres After Splashing £55 Million On Him

Barcelona are unable to register new signing Ferran Torres until the club reduces their wage bill.

The Blaugrana's financial difficulties have been well documented and they had to ask first-teamers to take wage cuts so they could include new signings in their squad.

Senior players Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba were among the most selfless, which allowed the registration of Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia.

Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann, two of the club's highest-earners, also left in the summer.

Barcelona are still in a serious amount of debt, however and remain over La Liga's salary cap regulations.

It means that despite splashing out £55 million (including add-ons) to sign Torres from Manchester City, Barca's wage bill needs to be trimmed for him to be able to play.

Image: PA

There will have to be outgoings, while the club are hopeful Ousmane Dembele will agree a new contract on a lower salary.

"Ferran Torres is a spectacular signing, both as a player and a person," Barca boss Xavi said on Saturday.

"He’s coming off an important injury, he has fantastic commitment, he’s going to give us a lot, I’ve no doubt about it. He can play in different positions, I’m very happy with the effort made by the club to get him.

“We’ll see how the salary cap situation is, if it’s possible right away. There has to be players leaving. If we get Dembele to resign his contract and lower his pay it will allow us to sign Torres and we hope that it can happen.

“His greatest virtue is his personality, he’s very ambitious, excited, implicated with a high commitment, you can see it in his eyes. The mentality he has is tremendous, hopefully you will be able to see it soon.”

Torres, who has had a €1 billion release clause inserted into his deal at the Nou Camp, is currently recovering from a foot injury he sustained playing for Spain in October.

Image: PA

He had started the season as City's central striker and scored three goals in seven appearances.

City paid £20.8 million to sign Torres from Valencia in 2020 and he went on to find the net 16 times in 43 games, lifting the Premier League title in his only full season.

Barca have also brought Dani Alves back to the club on a free transfer after his contract with Sao Paulo was terminated by mutual consent.

Topics: Barcelona, Manchester City, Xavi

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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