FC Barcelona have been in choppy financial waters for the last few years, which has effectively handicapped the Catalan club’s ability to perform at its optimal level and make its desired moves in the transfer market.
However, ever since the end of the Bartomeu regime, the club has been making slow but steady progress in this regard. The Catalans have successfully reduced most of their expenses and are making enough savings to ensure the long-term sustainability of the club.
Reductions in wage bill
Even in the recently closed summer transfer window, FC Barcelona have made considerable reductions in their expenses. A major reduction has come in the club’s wage bill after the changes in the squad made this summer.
A report by SPORT outlines the extent to which Barcelona have made these reductions in their wage bill. The report claims that the club has reduced its wages by €161,751,612 this summer, and this wage bill currently stands at €404,709,155.
This is a highly surprising figure, as only a few months ago, the wage bill at the Catalan club amounted to €566,460,767. With this high bill previously, the Catalans had 73% of their income, according to UEFA information, fixed for payments to their players.
Now, after the closure of the transfer market, this percentage stands at 54%, which is significantly less than the previous percentage and is thus more in accordance with the requirement of UEFA.
High-paid players leaving the club
The major reduction in the salary bill has come because of the exits of most of the high-paid footballers in the squad. Players like Antoine Griezmann, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Ousmane Dembele, Sergino Dest, Franck Kessie, Clement Lenglet, etc. have all left the club, allowing for a saving of up to €212,771,159.
The new players brought in this summer have their wages and amortization costs summing up to €50,562,711. Thus, FC Barcelona have significantly lowered their expenses this summer, while also upgrading the quality of its squad.