In a bid to bolster their financial resources, Barcelona is considering organizing a mid-season friendly in the United States. This move comes as the club continues to grapple with financial challenges, heightened by the ongoing Negreira case and the renovation of their iconic Camp Nou stadium.
Barcelona and the Financial issues
Barcelona’s financial struggles have been evident in recent years. The most prominent case was when they were unable to register Lionel Messi’s contract due to La Liga salary regulations. To address this, President Joan Laporta spent a significant portion of the summer of 2022 leveraging club assets to gain more flexibility in the transfer market, resulting in high-profile signings like Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde.
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During the summer transfer window, Barcelona spent a mere €3.4 million in transfer fees. With Oriol Romeu being the sole player for whom they disbursed a transfer fee. Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez joined on free transfers, while Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix were brought in on loan.
In light of their ongoing financial constraints, the club is actively exploring alternative means of increasing their revenue. One such avenue is a mid-season friendly in the United States. Barcelona previously toured the United States during the pre-season, playing matches against Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Arsenal on the west coast. However, a scheduled friendly with Juventus was canceled due to a virus outbreak in the Barcelona squad.
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The proposed mid-season friendly could potentially take place during the week commencing December 4 or during La Liga’s annual winter break starting on December 20. Head coach Xavi is reportedly in favor of such a match, recognizing the club’s urgent need to generate additional income.
CONCLUSION
While it’s currently likely that Barcelona would face a Mexican side, there have also been suggestions of a potential match against a team from Major League Soccer (MLS).
This move illustrates Barcelona’s determination to navigate their financial challenges while simultaneously expanding their global presence through international friendlies.