August 8 – FC Barcelona have managed to distance themselves from the danger of breaking LaLiga’s financial fair play rules with the signing of a deal with their US catering supplier Aramark who will pick up the debt owed by Libero.
The deal will see €40 million paid over immediately as Aramark take the 10% of shares in the Bridgeburg Invest company, the holding company of Barça Studios, with a further €60 million to be paid by the end of the year.
The final amount is to be paid between three Barça sponsors. Nike, Spotify and Aramark.
The failed €100 million sale of 10% in Barca Studios to German-based investment fund Libero Football Finance (agreed in 2023) was creating a financial pinchpoint for the club in the transfer market and as they accelerate the renovation of the Camp Nou and its surrounding areas.
Libero had committed to two payments of €40 million and €60 million but did not fulfil the agreement.
The result was that Barca has struggled to meet LaLiga’s 1:1 FFP rule that stipulates that a club should not spend beyond its income, and which that impacted the registration of new players.
The new money will free up cash to pursue the signings of Spanish Euro 2024 standouts Nico Williams and Dani Olmo.
Barca is expected to formally announce the agreement in the next few days.
The team has just returned from a pre-season trip to the US and will now face Monaco as part of their centenary celebrations this weekend before opening their LaLiga season August 17 away to Valencia.
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