Forget about signing new players. Barcelona had to work just to register the ones it already had.
As part of a slow day for Spanish clubs at the end of the winter transfer window, Barcelona was unable to significantly boost its squad and instead had to work to rearrange its finances and make sure it could fit some of its current players under the salary cap.
The Catalan club improved its financial situation recently but still struggled to comply with the Spanish league’s strict fair-play rules.
Its only hopes for last-minute deals reportedly involved Mexican right back Julián Araujo, the U.S. born player who plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Major League Soccer, and Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina.
First, though, Barcelona wanted to give young star Gavi a first-team contract, and register defenders Ronald Araújo and Marcos Alonso after they renewed their deals with the club. It was able to get the Gavi deal done, in part thanks to the retirement of Gerard Piqué and the departures of Héctor Bellerín to Sporting Lisbon and Memphis Depay to Atletico Madrid, but Araújo’s and Alonso’s revamped contracts likely won’t take effect until the summer.
Spanish league president Javier Tebas had said Barcelona will have to save more than 200 million euros ahead of the summer transfer window, but Gavi was allowed to be registered thanks to a court ruling in favor of the Catalan club. The league said it would appeal the ruling. Getting the 18-year-old to the first team is crucial for Barcelona to keep him from having the option of leaving for free in the summer.
Real Madrid is in a better situation financially, but also isn’t likely to add anyone to its squad other than Brazilian teenage sensation Endrick from Palmeiras, who was signed on a deal that will see him join the club when he turns 18 in 2024. On the other hand, it was not expected to lose any of the top players who helped it win the Champions League and the Spanish league last season.
Madrid rival Atletico signed Dutch forward Depay on loan from Barcelona and Irish right back Matt Doherty after he was released by Tottenham, but lost Matheus Cunha to Wolverhampton and João Félix on loan to Chelsea. Defender Felipe joined Nottingham Forest in England.
OTHER TEAMS Rayo Vallecano was finally able to register forward Raúl de Tomás after his transfer from Espanyol hadn’t come through in time at the previous transfer deadline.
Defending Copa del Rey champion Real Betis lost defender Álex Moreno to Aston Villa, while the only loss for Copa runner-up Valencia was coach Gennaro Gattuso, whose contract was terminated by mutual agreement on Monday.
Cádiz signed midfielder Youba Diarra from Salzburg, while Getafe brought in Gonzalo Villar on loan from Roma. Girona signed Peru defender Alexander Callens from New York City, while Mallorca added defender Ludwig Augustinsson from Aston Villa after seeing Braian Cufré move to NYC in Major League Soccer.
Valladolid signed Canadian forward Cyle Larin, and struggling Sevilla has added defender Loic Badé from Rennes, midfielder Pape Gueye from Olympique Marseille and forward Bryan Gil on a loan from Tottenham. The Spanish club loaned midfielder Thomas Delaney to Hoffenheim.
Villarreal lost goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli to Ajax and forward Arnaut Danjuma to Tottenham, while Espanyol added midfielder Denis Suárez after he left Celta Vigo.
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