<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
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.
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.
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.
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.
<h5>A much-needed resurgence</h5>
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.
The only way to do that is to create more revenue.
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.
So, here are the basics of how Barcelona rebuilds its squad.
<h3>Barcelona working to rebuild its squad</h3>
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PHOTO: Joan Gosa/Xinhua via Getty Images

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

<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
After a busy transfer window, Arsenal’s summer departures are next in Mikel Arteta’s plan.
So far, <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">the Gunners</a> did well to bring in quality players in significant positions. Undoubtedly, center-forward Gabriel Jesus is the most important acquisition this summer. However, they also bought other reinforcements across the pitch. For example, attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira, American goalkeeper Matt Turner, and winger Marquinhos all now call the Emirates home. Plus,&nbsp;<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City’s</a> <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1548201264261079040" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oleksandr Zinchenko</a> looks set to be the north London club’s next signing. Manchester City and Arsenal reached a deal. Now, all that remains is personal terms for the Ukrainian to move to North London.
Clearly, Arsenal is not done buying players. However, the priority now is to offload quite a few fringe players.
<h3>Arsenal’s summer departures</h3>
With the turn of the season, previously loaned players return to Arsenal under contract. That includes six players that are excess to requirements in Mikel Arteta’s plans. Hector Bellerin, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Pablo Mari, Reiss Nelson, Alex Runarsson, and Lucas Torreira are all most likely entering their final days as Arsenal players.
Along with this sextet, Bernd Leno, Nuno Tavares, and Nicolas Pepe could also be on the move this summer.&nbsp;That brings the total of potential sales to nine players.&nbsp;Although most of these players fail to collect huge transfer fees, selling them all helps the club in three different ways.&nbsp;Firstly, the transfer fees. However big or small this is, it is funding. In selling these players, Arteta and technical director Edu have more at their disposal in the transfer market this summer.
Secondly, player wages in the club fall quite drastically is the aforementioned nine players depart.&nbsp;Currently, the collective nine make a total of about $812,000 per week. Selling these players saves Arsenal somewhere in the range of This means that selling these players could essentially save the club around $42 million annually in wages.
<h5>Fitting in the system</h5>
These nine players do not fit Arteta’s plans with the team. Selling them also frees up space for new recruits.&nbsp;After a campaign without European play, Arsenal return to the Europa League for the 2022/23 season. This means that the club requires a bigger squad. After all, more matches means more tired legs. If Arsenal sells all nine of these players this summer, Arteta requires a few more pieces to fill out the depth necessities of the squad.
Nevertheless, some of the possible departures need not replacement. Currently, the Gunners have five goalkeepers in the senior team. Selling Leno and Runarsson does not affect the squad. Turner arrived for direct competition to current No. 1, Aaron Ramsdale.&nbsp;In a similar situation, selling (or loaning) Bellerin and Mari would also not necessarily mean new recruits would be needed in these particular positions.
Arteta and Edu are off to a good start in bringing more talent to the team. But, Arsenal’s summer departures is just as important.&nbsp;The manager has a clear set of attributes that he wants in his players. Arsenal fans hope that he can grab a few more quality players before the start of the upcoming season.
PHOTO: James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images

After locking in a number of key arrivals, Mikel Arteta now faces alleviating the squad with Arsenal's potential summer departures.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "departures"

Barcelona

Barcelona walking a financial tightrope to rebuild the squad

Arsenal

Signings secured, Arsenal's focus turns to summer departures