One Barca player set to miss out on season opener

FT Desk

• 12 Aug 2022 20:45 BST
• 3 min read

Barcelona may have to leave one of their new signings out of Saturday's La Liga season opener, according to most recent reports.

The Catalans have been working tirelessly to fix salary cap discrepancies which left them unable to register players ahead of the new campaign, even exercising a fourth financial level with the sale of a part of Barca Studios earlier this week.

A total of seven players had been thrown in doubt for the clash against Rayo at Camp Nou.

New arrivals Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Robert Lewandowsi, Raphinha and Jules Kounde were all waiting on last-minute registration in order to take the field and make their official debuts this weekend.

Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto are in similar situations: as the pair's contracts were allowed to lapse prior to renewal, they count as fresh signings in La Liga's eyes and must be re-registered to the squad.

Now La Liga has confirmed to RAC1 that one of the seven will have to sit out the game - but the identity of that man is still unknown.

What is clear at this point is that it will not be Lewandowski, Christensen or Kessie, whose inscription was confirmed on Friday evening and are hence cleared to play.

Xavi 'optimistic' over signings

Quizzed on Barca's registration efforts on Friday, coach Xavi was confident the problem would be resolved in time.

"We are working on it. Right now we are very positive," he told reporters.

"The club has worked on the fourth lever and I think we'll get through it. It's not 100 per cent, but we are optimistic now.

"The club is making a huge effort, we have time until tomorrow, but we are optimistic."