Barcelona have been given a summer transfer ban that stops them from signing players at the end of the season unless they can raise £178 million.
Daily Mail confirmed the news this morning and reported that the Spaniards have accumulated a debt of around £1 billion. The club triggered several economic levers, including their television rights, to register the numerous incomings they brought to the Camp Nou last summer.
Xavi signed the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha, all of which have been key to the Blaugrana this season.
However, now it seems as though they will be forced to oversee the departures of a number of players if they want the slightest chance of signing new additions when the 2022/2023 campaign draws to a close.
What this means for United
Manchester United are no doubt monitoring the situation and eyeing how they can play this situation to their advantage.
Erik ten Hag is a keen admirer of former protegee Frenkie de Jong and spent almost the entirety of last year’s summer window pursuing the Barcelona midfielder. There have already been reports circulating recently of the manager’s desire to reignite his pursuit of the 25-year-old.
Both clubs even reached an agreement on a fee for De Jong’s transfer, though the deal ultimately failed to materialise as the Netherlands international was set on staying in Spain and playing Champions League football, which is ironic because United just knocked the La Liga side out of the Europa League.
Things are vastly different at Old Trafford now. If Barcelona struggle to work their way out of this turmoil, De Jong will likely clock that the grass may be greener over in England, working with his former coach and playing a pivotal role in this United resurgence.
Throughout the many decades, there has always been prejudice against Manchester United for whatever reasons known only to the people who are prejudiced against the club.
This is also true of so-called ex-footballers turned pundits, whose affiliation with clubs which they have played for.
Pundits should be impartial and do punditry based on facts and the teams that are doing well and not nit-pick and trivialise minor issues.