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<p>Barcelona’s rebuild of its squad is well and truly up and running. Favorite son Xavi closed the previous season fairly well as head coach. Now, he brings in several new arrivals to put an end to the supporters’ suffering.</p>
<p>However, despite the glitz and glamor of new signings, questions remain over the plausibility of <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/07/16/financial-dilemma-influences-barcelona-summer-spending/">Barcelona’s transfer spending</a>. As of now, Barcelona remains billions in debt. Plus, rumors of differed wages lead to conspiracy theories about the financial dealings of the club. Many fans feel that something dodgy must be going on behind the scenes.</p>
<p>In fact, stories of the club nearing bankruptcy hit the social media circuit. Recent reports of a decrease of over $500 million in yearly revenue do no favors to the skyrocketing debt crisis.</p>
<p>However, not all is as it seems in <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a>. These tragic tales of doom and gloom may be pretty far from the mark. Simultaneously, Barcelona readies itself for a resurgence with increased transfer spending.</p>
<h5>A much-needed resurgence</h5>
<p>Yes, on field success has been pretty scarce in recent years. The downturn in revenue, combined with questionable transfer decisions, left the club on shaky ground. LaLiga rules stipulate that clubs can only spend a certain amount of money on players. This figure comes from a club’s current revenue and outgoings. For Barcelona, the club sits at -$150 million. Therefore, the Catalan cannot register any new players until this figure returns to positive figures.</p>
<p>The only way to do that is to create more revenue.</p>
<p>Granted, this seems like an insurmountable mountain. Remember, Barcelona is one of the juggernauts of world soccer. Despite its financial struggles, this is a wildly easier task than it is for other clubs. In fact, it is comparatively pocket change in the grand scheme of things.</p>
<p>So, here are the basics of how Barcelona rebuilds its squad.</p>
<h3>Barcelona working to rebuild its squad</h3>
<p>Firstly, Barcelona restructured its debt. Short-term liabilities became long-term. This provides stability for the club to find its footing. The general connotation of debt is negative. However, when managed properly, it can turn into a positive. Changing the length of the loan reduces monthly repayments. Consequently, the banks will not foreclose and call in the full amount of those debts any time soon.</p>
<p>Secondly, Barcelona wants to reduce its current wage bill. Fortunately, many players took significant pay cuts, often reaching the maximum allowed in LaLiga at 50% of the previous salary. Reason being, many players do not want to leave the club. Frenkie de Jong is the standout case. The Dutchman does not want to leave the club, but does not want to take a pay cut, either. Barcelona likely wants his wages out of the club, and the player is merely collateral for that.</p>
<p>Lastly, and most importantly, is the sale of business assets. When people talk about assets in terms of football clubs they usually think of the players themselves. Yet, a club the size of Barcelona has more to offer the business world than the talent of it’s playing staff. For one, the club <a href="https:\/\/theathletic.com/news/barcelona-sixth-street-tv-rights/PBONoC5Nn8yl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sold off 10% of all TV revenue</a> for the next 25 years for over $250 million. Straight away, this wipes out the -$150 million La Liga stipulated as their squad buying power.</p>
<p>But, the sales do not end there. Currently, club president Joan Laporta is negotiating other business deals to put the club back at the high end of football transfer market. Another 15% of future Barcelona TV deals is up for sale for a reported $330 million. Meanwhile, 49% of the clubs merchandising is going for another $200 million.</p>
<p>This might not be the reading that many Barcelona haters want to see and selling off future earnings may be something of a risk. However, in the short term, these moves more than allow Barcelona the room they need to sign who ever they feel they need this summer and should see them on a more secure financial footing for the next few years.</p>
<p><em>PHOTO: Joan Gosa/Xinhua via Getty Images</em></p>


The Barcelona rebuild is practically all financial. A pit of debt seems insurmountable but is on the right track with trophies in mind.

Barcelona walking a financial tightrope to rebuild the squad - World Soccer Talk

Barcelona walking a financial tightrope to rebuild the squad

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<p>The summer transfer window is not a point of celebration for <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/teams/juventus-tv-schedule/">Juventus</a> fans in recent years.</p>
<p>For one, the quality of the current squad is far below the level necessary to contend in a competitive <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-tv-schedule">Serie A</a>. Then, the decisions from the upper management in the club failed to rectify any of these shortcomings. This reflects and understanding of how or aspiration to do what it takes to improve the squad.</p>
<h5>Juventus’s shortcomings</h5>
<p>Let’s start with the club’s back line. In recent seasons, Alex Sandro underperformed. Yet, Juventus shows little interest in finding a replacement in that position. At center back, there is no serioud indication of pursuing an upgrade. Keep in mind that Juventus lost the services of both Giorgio Chiellini and Mattias de Ligt, who transferred to LAFC and Bayern Munich, respectively.</p>
<p>Further up the pitch, the <em>Bianconeri</em> boast a strong midfield three. Locatelli, Zakaria and the return of Paul Pogba is a great trio of skill and strength. However, the lack of depth could become an issue for Max Allegri. Adrian Rabiot disappointed throughout his time in Turin. While Allegri deployed Danilo as a midfielder, that is not his natural position.</p>
<p>Juve grapples with those same issues up top in the wake of Paulo Dyaba’s departure. Federico Chiesa hopes to return to training with the first team in September. Provided he can pick up his form before injury, he is part of a talented front line. Dušan Vlahović and Ángel Di María join the Italian to form one of Italy and Europe’s best front lines. However, it is far from a guarantee that Chiesa can immediately make an impact that rivals what he put out at Euro 2020. Plus, at 34 years old, Di María likely needs rest to recuperate throughout the season.</p>
<p>That leaves Allegri with just Moise Kean as an alternative, but the forward has yet to convince that he can fill that void.</p>
<h3>Juventus summer transfer window</h3>
<p>The gulf in quality between Juve and recent contenders for the Serie A title tightened this transfer window. However, the club’s lineup remains well below the level it was four or five years ago. Back then, the club regularly challenged in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League. For reference, the club suffered embarrassing eliminations to Ajax, Lyon, Porto and Villarreal in the last four iterations of the competition.&nbsp; If it continues to struggle against sides of that caliber, it faces greater difficulty attracting top players to the Allianz.</p>
<p>It’s true that they did secure the return of Paul Pogba and the signing of Di Maria. The Frenchman’s previous success in Turin played a key role in luring him back to Italy. For Di María, he only joined on a year-long contract and slowly regresses with age.</p>
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Official, confirmed. Paul Pogba signs his contract as new Juventus player, new deal worth €8m net plus add ons until June 2026. Commission around €2.5m. 🚨⚪️⚫️ <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/hashtag/Juventus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Juventus</a></p>
<p>Pogba, back at Juventus on a free transfer after being sold for €100m six years ago. <a href="https:\/\/t.co/CmhXTO0XUH">pic.twitter.com/CmhXTO0XUH</a></p>
<p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1546424671289151488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2022</a></p></blockquote></div>
<p><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Still, Juventus’s ability to land players of their pedigree is a rare step in the right direction. The likes of Aaron Ramsey, Adrian Rabiot and Danilo marked the club’s major transfers in previous summers. Unsurprisingly, the Old Lady lost its grip on Serie A and success in the UEFA Champions League.</p>
<h5>Managing the squad</h5>
<p>Allegri, meanwhile, could be forgiven for the Old Lady’s underwhelming season given its state when he took charge last summer. Juventus had scraped by to fourth place only because Napoli relinquished the position on the final day of the 2020-2021 season, and had ultimately failed to produce the attacking, progressive football it had aimed to deliver under Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo.</p>
<p>Though Allegri’s ultra-defensive brand of football had yielded much success in his previous spell at the club, it is unlikely to please supporters if it does not result in any meaningful challenge for silverware. Unless, the club demonstrate significant progress in their performances and ability to compete for titles, more supporters will question <a href="https:\/\/totalfootballanalysis.com/article/massimiliano-allegri-juvetnus-serie-a-tactical-analysis-tactics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Allegri’s methods</a> and his ability to lead this side forward.</p>
<p>Ultimately though, Juventus’s upper management bears the greatest share of responsibility for the club’s decline over the past four years. Juventus’s summer transfer window are steps in the right direction. Yet, the state of its squad is a good mile off the standard necessary to contend at the continent’s highest level.</p>
<p><em>PHOTO: Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images</em></p>


Despite a strong Juventus summer transfer window, the Old Lady still lacks the depth and talent of its Serie A rivals.

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Barcelona walking a financial tightrope to rebuild the squad

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Juventus summer transfer window holds special significance