Despite further attempts to improve their economic situation, the Blaugrana remain behind their Clasico rivals when it comes to spending power
Joan Laporta had tried to tell everyone it would all work out. Repeatedly, towards the end of Barcelona's 2022-23 La Liga-winning campaign, the club president lumbered up to a microphone to reassure fans that a big summer was ahead. He insisted that the club's finances had been sorted out, that Barca could be a force in the transfer market once again.
The primary target was, of course, Lionel Messi. But once it became clear that the club could not afford the great Argentine's wages, signing-on fee, or registration terms — even at a massive pay cut — everything started to look ominous. Since then, they have been linked with a host of big names, but have had to operate shrewdly in the market. The big hits that Laporta promised are yet to arrive.
Meanwhile, at Real Madrid, things look massively different. Suffering from a number of key departures, Los Blancos have invested heavily, bringing in one marquee signing, another one full of potential, with a potential superstar addition to follow. They won't have Karim Benzema in their side next season, but Madrid are in a position where they will finish the window having improved themselves.
This could present a problem for Barca. They won the league comfortably last year, besting their arch-rivals by 10 points. But Madrid's squad has undoubtedly improved, while Barcelona's has stalled.
GettyAlways going to be a big summer
Barcelona do indeed deserve some credit here. Winning La Liga is no easy feat, especially given they had a squad that was, on paper, far inferior to Madrid's. Doing it all by 10 points, while having, by some distance, the best defence in Europe, is all the more impressive. Still, there's a feeling that Xavi's side benefitted from a regression in the Spanish capital.
The previous season, Madrid had tallied 86 points and won the league by a more convincing margin. That same squad, complete with a further developed Vinicius Jr, should probably have pushed the Barca all the way.
And that's what makes this summer so crucial. Madrid had, by their measure, a forgettable season last year. This is a team that expected to win a treble every year, and should, at the very least, compete for La Liga. That they fell out of the picture will have only fuelled the anger in Ancelotti's side.
Madrid have been accordingly active, snapping up Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler, with the distinct possibility that Kylian Mbappe will eventually follow. This could comfortably become a €300 million (£257m/$331m) summer for Los Blancos. They aren't messing around.
Some of the usual key faces are still at the Santiago Bernabeu, too. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric have agreed to stay for one more year and will want to win in likely their last season in white. Vinicius has thrown himself into the 'best in the world' conversation and will play on the opposite wing to an ever-improving Rodrygo. Throw in Eduardo Camavinga, Eder Militao, Federico Valverde and Thibaut Courtois, and this, once again, looks like a scary team.
AdvertisementWho Barca have bought
Things aren't quite as intimidating in Catalunya, though most of last year's title-winning squad are still around. Crucially, Ronald Araujo has enjoyed an extended run of fitness, Gavi and Pedri will only get better, while Robert Lewandowski will almost definitely score 20-plus goals.
But the good news ends there. Barcelona have a massive hole to fill at the base of midfield, after boyhood culer Sergio Busquets left the club at the start of the summer. Xavi had helped the club captain adapt in his last season at Camp Nou, removing some of his running responsibilities, and stripping his game down to the tackling and ball progression that helped him define the modern No.6 position. He is a player that needs replacing.
And they've made some moves to try. Ilkay Gundogan looks a solid piece of business. The German has been vital for Manchester City's recent period of Premier League dominance and is sure to slot into the Barca midfield rather comfortably. But he isn't a defensive midfielder. It was, in fact, his deployment at the very position that arguably lost City the 2020 Champions League final. If the goal is to replace Busquets, they've got the wrong guy.
The other purchase in that position isn't exactly awe-inspiring. Barca have bought Oriol Romeu, a player who couldn't get a kick at Chelsea and enjoyed his best days at Southampton. He did impress for a Girona side that made a surprise push to 10th last season, but the €8m (£7m/$9m) signing isn't of the calibre to compete to ensure a defence of the Liga title.
Elsewhere, Inigo Martinez was brought in on a free from Athletic Club to add depth to the defensive ranks, while perhaps the most exciting signing and biggest outlay in terms of transfer fee is Brazilian teenager Vitor Roque, though the €35m striker won't arrive in Spain until January 2024.
GettyImageWho they want to buy
Still, they are undoubtedly ambitious at Barca. Xavi and Laporta have both spoken of their aspirations in the transfer market, and there are clearly still some weaknesses in this side. To fix their financial woes, and strengthen the unit, Laporta has turned to a reliable trick.
The president effectively mortgaged the club's future last summer, pulling a series of economic levers to free up cash for a busy transfer window. La Liga president Javier Tebas responded with a rule capping such actions, preventing Barca from selling club assets. But he didn't ban outside sponsorship.
Barcelona have reportedly allowed the Qatari league to use their name in return for a yearly injection of around €100m (£85m/$109m). That cash projects to be enough to register their current signings, and might just free up some room for more now. If further investment comes — and Laporta is looking — this could get very busy, very quickly.
Getty ImagesThe Mbappe situation
And it might soon get worse for Barcelona. Laporta insisted on Thursday that he isn't worried about the prospect of Mbappe joining Madrid. He claimed that Barcelona have a better squad, and that he would take the Blaugrana's team dynamic over the 'individuals' of Madrid.
There is some sense to that. His Barcelona side has grown together, and peaked at the right time. They seem to like each other, and certainly, despite being an inferior side on paper, bested Madrid.
But this is Mbappe, at a position of need. Madrid's current striking options look grim, with either Jude Bellingham as a false nine or the 33-year-old Joselu leading the line. Neither of those players will score 15 goals next year. Mbappe could bang in 30 without breaking a sweat.
Mbappe is a world-class player, the perfect addition to top off an already improved side. It is scary to think what the Frenchman might be able to do through the middle, with Vinicius and Rodygo on either side of him. Laporta is making all of the right noises here — and he should — but he must also be secretly hoping that the move falls apart. It could prove to be the death blow in Barcelona's title hopes.