Barcelona close to registering Rashford, Szczesny and more signings

Barcelona are closing in on registering key summer signings including Marcus Rashford, Wojciech Szczesny, and others as they gear up for the upcoming La Liga season. 

The club is making important financial moves to satisfy LaLiga's strict 1:1 financial fair play rule, which limits spending based on a club’s generated revenue.

On Wednesday, Barcelona's board unanimously approved a €7 million guarantee in a crucial step toward balancing the club's finances. 

This advance, provided by Banco Sabadell, one of Spain’s largest banks, is vital for complying with the salary cap regulations that have complicated player registrations. 

However, the club still must complete further formalities with LaLiga before registering five specific players, including goalkeeper Joan García, forwards Rashford, who recently spoke about Manchester United, and Roony Bardghji, returning goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny who recently renewed his contract, and defender Gerard Martín.

The 1:1 rule mandates that clubs can only spend on player salaries and transfers an amount equivalent to their actual income, ensuring financial stability across La Liga's top two divisions according to Abola. 

Barcelona's efforts to meet this requirement hinge on upcoming revenue from sales of VIP seats at the renovated Camp Nou stadium. The club hopes that LaLiga will approve this deal soon, which would secure the needed income to finalize player registrations.

These registrations have faced delays due to Barcelona exceeding their salary cap in recent seasons despite implementing various financial levers. 

The club recently secured a €7 million emergency guarantee from its board as a repeat measure to address overspending, signaling the urgency to have all new signings eligible before the season begins.

If successful, the registrations will ensure the availability of important additions like Rashford, who joined on loan, and Szczesny to head coach Hansi Flick’s squad as they prepare for their first match of the campaign. 

The situation remains fluid, with approval from LaLiga on revenues from VIP seat sales at Camp Nou and at the club’s Estadi Johan Cruyff crucial for full compliance.

With just days before the La Liga season opener, Barcelona is racing against the clock to complete all financial and bureaucratic steps necessary to register their summer signings, a vital move to avoid similar issues faced last season and strengthen their squad for the challenges ahead.