Barcelona goalkeeper João Garcia is set to play in Saturday’s league opening match against Mallorca after La Liga allowed the club to utilize the salary space originally designated for the injured Marc-André ter Stegen.
Although Barcelona exceeds La Liga’s financial fair play regulations, the rules permit the registration of new signings for players who have been injured for an extended period.
A long-term injury is generally defined as at least four months, and on Wednesday, the La Liga Panel determined that Ter Stegen’s back issue meets this criterion.
Last season, Barcelona applied a similar rule to sign Dani Olmo in place of the injured Andreas Christensen.
This development marks a resolution to the ongoing issues between Ter Stegen and the club.
The German goalkeeper initially indicated that his back surgery would sideline him for three months, but eventually signed the club’s injury documentation, particularly after temporarily losing his captaincy.
This means that Garcia, who joined from local rivals Espanyol for €25 million, will be officially registered as the Spanish champions kick off their title defense this weekend.
Reports suggest that the Barça board is working on securing a €7 million guarantee related to future earnings to facilitate the timely registration of other players, including Marcus Rashford.
Alongside Rashford, players like Rooyn Bardghji and defender Gerard Martín are also anticipated to register new contracts.
Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, has consistently voiced optimism about the club adhering to league financial regulations this summer.
However, while waiting for approval on various transactions, including the sale of VIP packages at the revamped Spotify Camp Nou, the board decided to implement a guarantee during Wednesday’s meeting.
A guarantee is essentially a commitment from the management ensuring that if the club fails to fulfill its financial responsibilities, they will cover a specified sum.
For La Liga, a valid guarantee likely secures future income, as it indicates financial solidity, enabling Barça to increase its spending limit temporarily.
Fan Take: This news is crucial for soccer enthusiasts as it highlights the intricate balance between financial regulations and player management in top clubs. The ability to register new signings like João Garcia could significantly impact Barça’s season performance, shaping their quest for another league title.
