FC Barcelona is still recovering from the financial instability from the Covid period and the era of the former club President Josep Bartomeu. Due to these instabilities, the Spanish club has decided not to send any club scouts to the upcoming Under 17 FIFA World Cup in Indonesia.
The biennial tournament is set to start on November 10 and will be contested between 24 countries from six federations. Since its inception in 1980, the tournament has provided an international stage for many young talents to showcase their potential.
Due to the club’s financial situation, Barcelona have decided not to send any scouts to watch the U17 World Cup.
— @sport pic.twitter.com/ZbosGebzOh
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) September 25, 2023
Players like Raheem Sterling, Neymar Jr., Mario Gotze, Andrés Iniesta, and Eden Hazards have all had breakout performances for their country that have caught the eyes of the biggest club in the sport. However, Barcelona won’t be among the clubs that will be keeping a closer eye on the upcoming talents in the latest edition.
The financial difficulties at the club have forced them to focus on their own academy, La Masia, and promote the current crop of talents into the main squad. The latest example can be seen in the form of the incorporation of Lamine Yamal in the first team squad in the new season.
It’s unreal that Barca is already dependent on Lamine Yamal to save us. This used to be Messi’s job but Lamine is only 16. pic.twitter.com/Q08oV8XpMO
— FC Barcelona Fans Nation (@fcbfn_live) September 24, 2023
These financial difficulties have made life difficult for the management, especially in the summer, when they lost out on an opportunity to resign Lionel Messi after his two-year contract with PSG ended in the summer.
The situation has been compounded due to the ongoing renovation of their stadium, Nou Camp, which will cost around $1.6 Billion as per reports.
FC Barcelona spent only $3.6 Million in the summer transfer window
The financial instability was on full display in the recent summer transfer window when FC Barcelona, one of the biggest clubs in the world, ended the window with less than $4 Million spent on the incoming players.
The club was coming off a successful season under Xavi where they won the league title from Real Madrid. Hoping to build on the success, Barcelona brought in only five players. Out of those five players, they only paid a transfer fee for Oriol Romeu, $3.6 Million to Girona for the defensive midfielder.
IIkay Gundogan joined a free transfer from Manchester City as well as Inigo Martinez from Athletic Bilbao. The Spanish club saved the transfer window on the deadline day when they completed loan deals for João Félix from Atlético Madrid and João Cancelo from Manchester City.
🚨 João Cancelo since joining:
4 games (3 from the beginning)
2 goals
1 assist.João Félix since joining:
4 games (3 from the beginning)
3 goals
2 assists.𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐓. 🇵🇹💎 pic.twitter.com/ZYZAiXPtkw
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) September 25, 2023
During the summer, Barcelona missed key targets such as Martin Zubimendi, Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, and Neymar Jr. due to these financial struggles.
However, despite the minimal spending, the Spanish club is off to a flying start with five victories in six games in the league and a 5-0 victory in the opening fixture in the UEFA Champions League.
The new signings of João Félix, João Cancelo, and Gundogan have slotted perfectly into the squad to provide more depth in the absence of injuries to key players like Pedri and Ronald Araujo.