Even amid financial troubles and allegations that it bribed referees, FC Barcelona sits at the top of the La Liga table — and continues to find ways to spend.
The club is currently preparing a $265 million “super” economic lever that would allow it to alleviate its financial woes and sign new players over the summer.
The main feature would be a 49% sale of Barca Licensing & Merchandising — a deal that almost happened last summer for $211.5 million when a consortium led by Fanatics and Investindustrial almost purchased the share.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta popularized the term “lever” ahead of last season, when the club sold portions of its future TV rights to fund a $167 million spending spree on players such as Robert Lewandowski — who leads La Liga with 15 goals.
Even if this new super-lever comes to pass, the club may not be able to avoid controversy — economic or otherwise.
Following a formal investigation that began earlier this week, Spanish authorities announced that they are charging Barcelona with corruption in connection to payments made to former vice president of La Liga’s refereeing committee Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, who was also charged with corruption.
Former club presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu (2014-2020) and Sandro Rosell (2010-2014) are also facing individual corruption charges.
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