There are six games left for Barça, reigning League champions, to surrender the title to Real Madrid and end the season cleanly. With nothing to win, Xavi’s team has no other option than to try to seal a minimum goal: finish second to ensure participation in the Spanish Super Cup next season. It is not an encouraging goal for Barcelona fans. But not at all futile for a club immersed in a constant economic crisis. Going to Arabia means an income of six million. Another million if Barça reach the final and two more if they lift the title.
But there is life beyond the Super Cup. With Xavi already confirmed as manager for next season, the focus is now on the players. Final casting begins. What will serve to certify which are untouchable and which are not. And the last chance for players on loan like João Félix and Cancelo to show that they can continue at Blaugrana. “The diagnosis is enough. But what is done now will also be taken into account”, warned Xavi.
Because of all this, the Barcelona team aims to win the six remaining games starting with today’s match in Montjuïc against Rubén Pipo Baraja’s Valencia. Eighth in the table, the Valencian team is still immersed in its dream of reaching the continental positions to return to walking around Europe more than four years later. The casting will close with the visit to Montilivi to play against Girona, receiving Real Sociedad, traveling to the home of already relegated Almeria, receiving Rayo Vallecano and closing the League at Sánchez Pizjuán against Sevilla. “We will decide based on performance. Regardless of whether they are young or veterans”, warned Xavi, who has his list of non-transferables such as Frenkie De Jong, Araújo or the young Lamine Yamal, Cubarsí, Gavi or Pedri. Also on this list is Sergi Roberto, whose contract ends on June 30. “I hope he continues”, said Xavi of his captain.
In the transfer market, the priority will once again be the midfielder. Last season Xavi met with Zubimendi. Also with Bernardo Silva. “We were not in the 1-1 rule”, said Xavi, recalling the market rule that indicates that the same amount can be invested in signings as is achieved through sales. Despite the background, Xavi continues to show blind trust in President Laporta. On the other hand, he does not trust Vitor Roque so much, the Brazilian striker for whom the club, despite the financial difficulties, paid 30 million fixed and 31 more in variables. Roque ends the season unprecedented in the Champions League, with 276 minutes in the League and 34 more in the Cup. “We sit down to agree on what is best for each player”, said Xavi, who understands everything. It’s no secret that the club would do well to save the gross three million that Roque receives. But for now, the striker’s intention, with a contract until the 2030-2031 season and a clause of 500 million, is to continue with Blaugrana.
LaLiga will be very dependent on the possible income and sales. Last week, the Barcelona president and his right-hand man, Alejandro Echevarría, met with the highest representative of the employers’ association, Javier Tebas. The tension of just a year ago is now history. Despite the fact that Montjuïc has not generated the expected income, LaLiga believes that Barça will be able to fulfill the budget with the income of 859 million euros and a profit of 11 million and that it will be able to work normally if it manages to enter the pending 100 million Libero by the lever of Barça Vision. 40 million are from the past financial year and 60 from the current year. New allies are being sought in Dubai and the United States for this lever. This time, after Libero’s disappointment, signing will not be enough.
At the same time, Barça continues to renegotiate the contract with Nike, which has clothed Barça since 1998. According to club sources, the new agreement would mean going from the current 64 million to 100 million. It all adds up.
