Xavi has 'impossible' working conditions with Barcelona squad
Stuart Telford
- Updated: 3 Aug 2022 12:30 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona may be emerging from financial oblivion and have added Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha and to their ranks, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows for coach Xavi.
Barca were more than €1 billion in debt at the height of their economic plight last year, but they have since activated "financial levers" - cash injections now set against future income later - to stay afloat and indeed invest in the squad.
More than €150 million has been spent on Lewandowski, Kounde and Raphinha, while Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen and have also been added to the squad following their free transfer arrivals from AC Milan and Chelsea respectively.
Jules Koundé joins an academy rondo at his Barcelona unveiling 🔵🔴pic.twitter.com/NfAgV8OZ7Y
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 1, 2022
But Barca still need to sell players this summer, and for more than one reason. Naturally, they would further balance the books if they could finally ship highest earner Frenkie de Jong off to Manchester United, but if they can't get rid of the Dutchman and others, they will simply have too many players.
Seven too many, according to La Liga regulations.
Barca have returned to Spain following their undefeated pre-season tour of the USA, but with an extended squad of 32, they will train with more than the regulation 25 first-team players according to Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo.
Barca's full squad together for the first time
"For the first time this season, new players (Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen), the previously out of contract (Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto) and those available for transfer who have stayed despite being excluded from the US tour (Samuel Umtiti, Riqui Puig, Martin Braithwaite and Neto) will coincide," the write.
"In addition to those who have returned from loans (Inaki Pena, Miralem Pjanic and Alex Collado) and those who continue from last season, there will be a total of 29 players, four more than is allowed by La Liga. And with Abde, Alejandro Balde and Pablo Torre, three players from Barca B, they will reach 32 in training."
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One potential solution could be that Barcelona split their main training into two sessions, or having De Jong and others whom they intend to sell train individually. Barca need to tread carefully here, though, due to Spanish labour law.
Barcelona have shipped some players this summer, with Phiilippe Coutinho making his Aston Villa move permanent for €20m, Dani Alves allowed to leave on a free, and Clement Lenglet joining Tottenham Hotspur on loan, but there is more work to be done.
