Graham Hunter has shared how Barcelona are buying players in the transfer market and explained that it is ‘extraordinary’, as he told Sky Sports.
The La Liga giants have been pretty busy in the transfer window, with their most-recent purchase being Robert Lewandowski, whilst one of their biggest captures has been signing Raphinha from Leeds United.
Leeds will be paid as much as £55 million for the Brazil International (BBC Sport) who scored 11 Premier League goals last season.
It has left many questioning, and those at Elland Road would have probably been thinking the same when they were concluding the long-winded Raphinha deal, which is ‘just how are they doing it?’
Well, Spanish expert Graham Hunter has given an insight into why they are able to splash the cash despite being riddled in debt, as he compared it to remortgaging a house.
“In analysing this, don’t let anybody think that I am being defensive of Barcelona because it is extraordinary what they are doing,” said Hunter.
“In fact, I would probably say it’s unprecedented. The way to start explaining is that over the last few weeks, Barcelona have done deals in selling their mortgage rights and selling some TV rights.
“It’s like for anybody who thinks ‘well, can I remortgage my home? Can I draw down value against the worth of my home has accumulated? That’s what they are doing, in terms of the TV rights and their marketing rights.
“They have been sponsored by Spotify, so they are in the process of taking in something like 600 million Euros this summer. That means that they can sign. That means that La Liga have given them the go-ahead to sign and mortgage their futures.
“What isn’t clear is whether those players can be registered yet because the financial fair play imposed by La Liga leaves Barcelona really with their backsides still sticking out of the window. They need to make massive, massive economy of their wage bills.”
WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
Well, all these big-name stars haven’t arrived to get their calculators out and help Barcelona’s financial troubles.
But to regain the La Liga title from Real Madrid and the Champions League from their Spanish rivals.
How far off they are winning any of those competitions, well, only time will tell.
However, there is big pressure on Xavi’s shoulders heading into the new La Liga campaign because the last thing you want to do is go through all this effort to sign these players, only to finish the season trophyless.
Ronald Koeman might be a Barcelona legend as a player, but it’s fair to say that as a manager, he wasn’t seen in a positive light and those in Catalonia will be as harsh on Xavi if things don’t go well with him in the dugout.
Either way, this Barcelona story will still be twisting and turning yet, and don’t probably rule out Lionel Messi returning next summer because this club is seemingly pulling off all the miracles despite their troubles.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
