Barcelona set to insert special clause with new signings
Barcelona are set to include a special clause in the contracts of any new signings they make this summer.
The La Liga leaders have found themselves in serious financial problems in recent times, to the point where they have been unable to register new additions and forced a slew of their stars to take hefty salary cuts.
They also sold domestic TV rights and their in-house media suite to cover costs and ensure the likes of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde could be registered last summer.
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They've had to adhere to a strict salary cap and that could seriously disrupt their plans in the transfer market.
But a new report from El Mundo claims Barca have a strategy going into the summer window. Any player who moves to the Catalan giants this summer will have a unique clause inserted in any deal they sign.
The clause means thew player will be allowed to leave on loan in the event they cannot be registered or there is no guarantee of it happening.
The player will be able to move to a club of their choice and the salary Barcelona agree to pay would still be valid. The Blaugrana would have to cover the salary if the club in question were not prepared to do so.
Barca have a imposed salary limit of 648.82 million euros in the summer, around eight million less than they were allowed just short of a year ago.
In March, La Liga chief Javier Tebas said Barca would not be able to make any new reinforcements going into the summer window unless they sell players.
He also claimed they would effectively under a budget of minus €200m in order to not go over the salary limit.
“Barcelona has been involved in questionable behaviour which has had an impact on LaLiga - and we are acting accordingly, "he explained at the FT Business of Football summit in London.
“We have ruled that they can no longer sign more players.
“They sold off €700m in TV rights and tried to find different ways to solve the situation. But they won’t be able to do that next season.
“We have strict economic controls. At the end of each window, we tell all the clubs in La Liga what they can spend.
“In the case of Barcelona, they have to drop from spending on wages and transfers from €650m to €450m - so it’s a budget of minus €200 million.
“They have to reduce their investment in players and we have encouraged them to sell players because for every amount they raise in sales they can spend 40 per cent of that.”
Barca are 11 points clear at the top of La Liga but suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night. They return to action against Real Betis at the Nou Camp on Saturday.
Josh Lawless