Barcelona 'unable to register Hansi Flick as new head coach' due to financial concerns
Barcelona are reportedly unable to 'register' new head coach Hansi Flick due to financial concerns.
On Wednesday Barcelona announced the appointment of Flick as their new manager, following the sacking of club legend Xavi Hernandez.
The former Bayern Munich and Germany coach signed a two-year contract after he and his representative met with club bosses in Barcelona on Tuesday.
Flick - who has been out of a job since he was sacked as Germany coach in September last year - will reportedly earn £3 million a year plus bonuses, which include £850,000 for winning the Champions League and £750,000 for winning La Liga.
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However, according to Marca, as things stand Barca cannot actually register Flick to coach their matches.
Barcelona's financial struggles are well documented, and at present the club does not have enough space on its salary cap to register Flick and his coaching staff.
Over the last few years the Catalan giants have struggled to register new signings to play in La Liga, and only did so by pulling a series of 'economic levers' as well as some players taking wage cuts.
Barcelona are still waiting to receive €100 million they are owed by German company Libero for the sale of 49 per cent of Barca Studios, the club's in-house media company.
In addition, Barca are hoping to close an agreement with sportswear provider Nike that would bring in a €100 million signing bonus.
The funds would directly impact the sporting side of the club, as Barcelona's wage bill is currently above the cap limit that La Liga's automatic registration system will allow.
Some Barca players who were registered in time for this season, including Gavi and Alejandro Balde, are currently not registered to play in 2024-25.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has long been keen on hiring a German coach, and first held conversations with Flick months ago when Xavi announced that he would resign at the end of the season.
Barca convinced their former midfield to stay before then sacking him last Friday.
When announcing Flick's appointment, Barcelona described him as a manager “known for his intense, ambitious high press” and cited a “wide experience at club and international level, in which he has won practically every title that can be won in world football”.
After a Barca's 2-1 win against Sevilla on Sunday, Xavi said that his successor should be prepared to 'suffer' at the club.
FC Barcelona has been approached for comment.
Alex Brotherton