There are only a few weeks left before the 2025/26 season comes to an end. At FC Barcelona, attention is focused not only on securing the La Liga title, but also on building the squad for next season.
Sporting director Deco has been working for months with the aim of assembling a group capable of competing for everything and making the leap in quality needed to win the UEFA Champions League.
The Catalans’ objectives are clear: a centre-forward, a central defender, a left winger, and a full-back (Joao Cancelo on a permanent deal).
But Deco cannot take the next step, which would be to negotiate with clubs, until he knows under what financial conditions Barcelona will be able to operate in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Return to 1:1 close
And, according to Ferran Correas of SPORT, at Barcelona, there is genuine conviction this time that the club will return to the 1:1 Fair Play rule, while La Liga is also optimistic.
“We will be within the 1:1 rule before 30 June, for sure,” sources from the club told SPORT.
Waiting on the return to 1:1 rule. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
During the election campaign, Ferran Olive, who will become vice-president for economic affairs on 1 July, also stated that Barcelona were between €10 million and €12 million short of reaching the 1:1 rule.
What Barcelona need to do
The Blaugrana are now very close to the target, although there are still several conditions to be met before the financial year closes.
To comply with the 1:1 rule, Barcelona must not exceed their Squad Cost Limit, which includes spending on players, coaching staff of the first team, as well as costs related to reserve teams, the academy, and other sports sections.
In the most recent update by La Liga, Barcelona’s limit increased from €351 million to €432 million, an increase of €81 million.
The club was still exceeding the limit, but close to compliance, and the objective is to fall within it for the next transfer window. Club sources insist that this will happen, and La Liga also acknowledges that Barcelona are very close to achieving their goal.
Once the 1:1 rule is achieved, Deco will be able to move forward with signings. However, even if Barcelona can operate normally, they will not have a large salary margin, meaning that any incoming player will need to be balanced by departures.
