FC Barcelona is a walking paradox when it comes to the state of its economy. The signals it sends are those of a club with a tight budget when it comes to increasing resources for certain areas (women’s football, basketball, and other sections), but at the same time it has not only just signed a forward like Anthony Gordon for 70 million euros plus 10 million in variables for its men’s football team, but it also does not rule out acquiring the services of Julián Álvarez, another offensive player for whom Atlético is asking 150 million. Everything has an explanation, although not without risks.
On March 3, LaLiga announced that FC Barcelona had increased its spending capacity on the squad by 81.5 million to 432.8 million euros, which represented a 23.2 percent increase compared to the report from the previous September. The Sports Squad Cost Limit (LCPD), as this economic valuation is technically called, includes, among other concepts, fixed and variable salaries, expenses related to player purchases (agent commissions), and amortizations, that is, the total cost of the player spread out over the years of the player’s contract.
Deco and Laporta met with the player’s agent; Atlético asks for 150 million and Barça offers 100
In the case of Gordon and roughly speaking, dividing by five (his contract years) the maximum cost of 80 million plus a gross salary of about 15 million results in about 30 million euros, which is manageable after the mentioned improvement in Barça’s LCPD. Applied to a purchase of Julián Álvarez, now entering the realm of hypotheses, the Argentine would hardly be below 50 million annually combining all concepts.
Barça’s positive evolution in its particular LCPD is largely based on the return to Camp Nou (the clásico, for example, broke the historic revenue record with 16.2 million in a single match) and commercial agreements such as the extension of the sponsorship with Spotify until 2034 or with Nike until 2038.
LaLiga reported in March that the club increased its spending capacity on the squad by 81.5 million
The Blaugrana club also believes that this is the ideal summer to undertake major financial operations such as signings of this magnitude because the gradual expansion of the third tier will be carried out in the 2026-27 season (more VIP boxes and more income) and in the following season, however, the first team will have to play an undetermined number of matches at Montjuïc until the skin that will cover the entire stadium is installed, works that will begin in the summer of 2027 and whose timelines range from four to ten months according to sources.
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And what about the 1:1 economic control rule? That is where the risks mentioned at the beginning come in. Let’s remember: LaLiga’s 1:1 rule allows a club to use 100% of the money generated by sales or salary savings to register new players. Barça still does not comply with it, but moves like the signing of Gordon predict that it is close to doing so. In statements prior to the elections, then treasurer Ferran Olivé said that “between 10 and 12 million” were missing to reach it. Sponsorship agreements about to be closed, as well as some player sales (if Monaco were to execute the purchase clause for Ansu Fati, for example) would suffice. The feeling of being comfortable in the role of tightrope walker continues under the (currently elected) presidency of Joan Laporta.
The cost of the English forward, including salary and amortization, will amount to about 30 million per year
In that context, the moves made to try to sign Julián Álvarez should be included. It is known at Atlético that their star forward wants a change of scenery (he has not accepted the renewal offer) and that Barça is his preferred destination, but the operation is complex. The Madrid club has valued its player at 150 million euros and the Blaugrana club offers 100 and would be willing to reach 120 with variables. Joan Laporta and Deco met last Wednesday in Barcelona with the intermediary Juanma López and with the player’s agent, Fernando Hidalgo, proof that the interest is no invention.
Waiting to see how the spider’s file evolves, today will be a big day for Anthony Gordon. Yesterday he landed in Ciudad Condal and passed the medical examination at the Barcelona Hospital. This morning he will sign his new five-year contract alongside Deco, technical director, and Rafa Yuste, the president, and then he will attend the media to offer his first words as a culé. He will immediately return to his country as he is called up with England to play in the World Cup starting Monday. Barça believes that Gordon is still to be fully developed as a player, and that after the World Cup his value will have already increased.
