Barcelona will register Kounde in time for Valladolid clash
Robin Bairner
- 26 Aug 2022 12:57 BST
- 3 min read
Jules Kounde could be handed a competitive Barcelona debut on Sunday in La Liga against Valladolid, with the Camp Nou side set to have the player’s registration approached by the League.
Kounde had been forced to sit out Barca’s first two games of the season – a draw at home to Rayo Vallecano followed by a win over Real Sociedad - in the stands because he was not eligible.
Financial Fair Play restrictions meant that Barcelona have to create space in their wage budget to allow him to be able to play, and they have now done so, meaning the France international can finally take his first serious steps since arriving from Sevilla in the summer.
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Umtiti deal decisive
Sport reports that the League is satisfied with the efforts that Barca have made this summer in order to reduce their wage bill. These have included the activation of four economic levers, which have meant the sale of key long-term assets, as well as players taking salary reductions while others have been moved off the wage bill.
Indeed, it appears that it has been the loan of Samuel Umtiti to Lecce that has tipped the balance in favour of Barcelona being able to field Kounde on Sunday.
Just how much of a role he will have to play is questionable after a lack of competitive matches in recent weeks. Nevertheless, the midweek 3-3 friendly draw against Manchester City was an opportunity for him to get some game time in his legs, but otherwise he has barely managed any playing time at all over the summer.
Kounde’s registration, though, means that a big worry is off Barcelona’s back and they can now go forward and aim to add Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and potentially a right-back to their squad before the close of the summer transfer window.
