Barcelona Faces Registration Challenges Ahead of Season Opener
Marcus Rashford has yet to be registered by his new club, Barcelona, with manager Hansi Flick expressing his dissatisfaction with the ongoing situation.
The La Liga champions are set to begin their season on Saturday, but they are encountering difficulties in signing players due to the league's financial regulations.
During the 2024-25 season, Barcelona spent more on player acquisitions and wages than they earned in revenue.
"As you can imagine, I am not happy about this situation. However, I understand the circumstances, and I have faith in the club," Flick stated during a press conference on Friday.
"We will concentrate on what we can control. For everything else, I trust in the club's management."
Barcelona's financial issues have persisted in recent years, with the club only able to register Dani Olmo for the first half of the 2024-25 season under a special exception.
They faced two rejected appeals in their efforts to register him for the remainder of the season. The club was temporarily allowed to re-register Olmo in January 2025, which was then extended until the end of the season in April.
In 2022, Barcelona managed to register only four new signings, including striker Robert Lewandowski, just before their opening match after implementing several 'economic levers' to free up funds.
This season, they have alleviated some of their registration challenges by negotiating a long-term medical leave agreement with German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, which has freed up 80% of his wage value for a replacement's registration.
The departure of 34-year-old defender Inigo Martinez to the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr has also created additional salary space.
Defender Joao Garcia has yet to be registered as well.
Barcelona's first match of the season will take place against Mallorca on Saturday at 18:30 BST.