Barcelona cannot register new coach after sacking Xavi

Trouble hits Barcelona again as financial woes resurfaces from Xavi Hernandez’s sacking as manager.

The La Liga side just recently appointed Hansi Flick as their new head coach, following the dismissal of club legend Xavi Hernandez, however, there stands a twist at the moment pertaining to the signing.

The announcement was made on Wednesday, with Flick signing a two-year contract after meeting with club officials in Barcelona on Tuesday. The former Bayern Munich and Germany coach is set to earn £3 million per year, with additional bonuses for winning the Champions League (£850,000) and La Liga (£750,000).

However, according to reports from Marca, Barcelona currently lacks the financial capacity to register Flick and his coaching staff. The club’s well-documented financial struggles have left them unable to fit Flick’s salary within La Liga’s salary cap.

Barcelona has faced similar issues over the past few years, often relying on ‘economic levers’ and wage cuts from players to register new signings. The club is also awaiting a €100 million payment from German company Libero for the sale of 49 percent of Barca Studios, their in-house media company.

Additionally, they hope to secure a €100 million signing bonus from sportswear provider Nike. These funds are crucial, as the club’s wage bill exceeds the limit imposed by La Liga’s automatic registration system.

Currently, some players, including Gavi and Alejandro Balde, are not registered to play in the 2024-25 season despite being registered for the current season.

This financial predicament complicates the registration of Flick, who Barcelona President Joan Laporta had been keen on hiring for months. Laporta first approached Flick when Xavi announced his intention to resign at the end of the season, though Xavi was convinced to stay before being sacked last Friday.

In their announcement of Flick’s appointment, Barcelona praised his “intense, ambitious high press” and highlighted his extensive experience at both club and international levels, noting his success in winning nearly every major title in world football.

Despite a recent 2-1 victory against Sevilla, former head coach Xavi warned that his successor should be prepared to ‘suffer’ at the club, hinting at the challenging environment and high expectations at Barcelona.