Laporta defends Barcelona finances after Olmo registration saga – Soccer News

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has defended his management of the club’s finances and insisted they followed LaLiga’s rules to ensure they could register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.

Barca have been beset by financial issues in recent years, with LaLiga’s strict salary cap rules limiting the Blaugrana to a €426million annual spend on wages for 2024-25, compared to the €755m limit afforded to rivals Real Madrid.

Having failed to bring their finances under control by December 31, Barca were blocked by LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) from registering Olmo and Victor.

Both players had been granted temporary registrations after arriving in pre-season but were left facing the prospect of having to miss the remainder of 2024-25.

After two courts rejected Barcelona’s requests to register the pair, the club turned to the Spanish Government, which intervened as the National Sports Council (CSD) reversed the decision and allowed them to be provisionally registered.

Laporta said on Tuesday he had closed a deal to sell Camp Nou’s VIP boxes to Middle Eastern investors, also agreeing a new seven-year kit deal with Nike to balance their finances and meet LaLiga’s rules.

“We submitted the documentation on December 27. We sent it within the deadline, but between December 27 and 31, LaLiga asked us to complete the documentation,” he said.

“We thought we had the break-even on December 31 and LaLiga asked us for additional requirements that were not included.

“There was no improvisation whatsoever. We established a very detailed strategic plan from the outset and it has been evaluated as the weeks have gone by.

‘Barça’s strength has been shown,’ says @JoanLaportaFCB

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴜʟʟ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ʙᴇʟᴏᴡ https://t.co/UbGGL0kBML

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 14, 2025

“The deal has been completed thanks to the work and talent of all the executives. They are doing an extraordinary job.

“The contract with Nike triples what we were charging and would have been done regardless of the FFP requirements.”

Laporta refused to provide details of the VIP seat contract, citing confidentiality clauses.

LaLiga said last week it disagreed with the CSD’s decision and will appeal the ruling. Several clubs have also criticised the government intervention, saying it set a dangerous precedent.