Barcelona left stranded in the winter transfer market as German investors fail to make payment

Joan Laporta’s economic levers, on the surface, presented a pretty picture of Barcelona’s image. The president was virtually mortgaging the club’s future for their present, but it did not seem a bad idea given their state of paralysis in the transfer market.

Despite being a simple manipulation on the outside, there has been a great deal of transactions made behind the scenes that may appear suspicious. Transfer of stakes and assets continued to roll in, with the latest being Libero’s decision to purchase a stake in Barça Vision for €60 million.

Payment overdue

The German investors were expected to deposit the funds in the Catalan coffers during the summer transfer window in June. However, only a third of the promised amount was paid, and the €40 million dues never arrived.

A deadline of December 31st was thus set, giving the investors close to five months to transfer the promised amount. The deadline has now passed, and Libero continues to default.

As revealed by Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona knew as early as August that Libero would be unable to pay the promised €40 million. They are now stuck with no investment and funds to make any moves in the winter transfer window.

Legal proceedings against Libero have begun, but Vitor Roque could well be Barcelona’s only winter signing.

49% for nothing

As revealed by the Spanish outlet, Barcelona’s former presidential candidate Victor Font aptly describes the situation to be ‘serious and generates great concern’. After all, a year and a half after selling 49% of Barça Studios, no stable source of income generation has been built.

49% of Barça Vision was initially sold to Orpheus Media and Socios.com in exchange for €200 million. However, matters took a turn last summer when Libero and another investor bought back 29.5% of the aforementioned stake for €120 million.

The manoeuvre brought Barcelona back in the driver’s seat in terms of stake involved with 51%. However, Libero’s failure to meet the deadline has reopened the subject and created avenues for a deeper dive into the transactions.