Ferran Torres is very likely to move to Barcelona, but the 21-year-old right attacker cannot be registered in LaLiga for the time being, it knows Sport. To do this, Barça will first have to reduce the wage bill enormously in January by letting various players leave. If that fails, the Catalans may still have to accept the investment deal with CVC Capital Partners.
Barcelona has exceeded the salary cap in LaLiga and is therefore bound by the so-called 1/4 rule. This stipulates that a club may re-register in the competition only 25 percent of the salary saved by an outgoing transfer. This means that the new salary Ferran will receive must be compensated at least four times by the departure of players. Barca are in full agreement on Ferran with Manchester City, which will receive 55 million euros (plus 10 million in any bonuses), according to Fabrizio Romano.
Incidentally, Barcelona also experienced the same rule last summer: the contract of Lionel Messi could not be extended and the signings of Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero could not be registered. Barça solved the registration problem through an agreement with Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who gave up part of their salary.
Javier Tebas, the president of LaLiga, confirms Sport that the rule is still in force for Barcelona. “I have already explained to Joan Laporta (the president of Barcelona, ed.), he knows what he has to do,” said Tebas, who means that players will have to be removed from the payroll. “Of course it depends on which players leave. If Philippe Coutinho and Samuel Umtiti leave, they can sign a new player.” The two mentioned players are known to be absolute big earners in Barcelona. According to recent reports in the Spanish press, however, there is very little interest in Coutinho and Umtiti, with their high salary also being a stumbling block.
Tebas mentions the investment deal with CVC as an alternative. The investment fund has agreed on a capital injection of almost two billion euros in Spanish football, but Barcelona, Real Madrid and Ahtletic Club did not agree and are therefore not involved in the deal. Tebas encourages Barça to join the agreement after all. “It would give Barcelona direct access to new players,” said the LaLiga president. “I encourage Laporta to resolve the situation because, starting with LaLiga, everyone wants to see a strong Barcelona. Barca and Real Madrid are the driving forces behind LaLiga and of course we are not happy with the situation in Catalonia. resolved it quickly.”