In a major development, MARCA reports that Barcelona are on the cusp of returning to the 1:1 Fair Play rule for the upcoming transfer window.
This comes after construction firm Limak officially certified the completion of the VIP boxes at the new Camp Nou – a condition required for the club to regain full transfer flexibility.
The completion of the boxes has been confirmed by the builder and passed to the club, who will now forward the documentation to LaLiga for verification.
The background
Barcelona closed a deal worth €100 million for the sale of VIP seats at the new stadium in late December, officially announced in mid-January.
After the club confirmed receipt of a portion of the funds, La Liga initially allowed Barcelona to operate under the 1:1 rule, enabling them to sign players freely during the winter window.
VIP seat construction at Camp Nou complete. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
However, La Liga later reversed that decision after receiving a report from Barcelona’s new auditor, who did not validate the VIP box transaction – a stance contrary to the previous auditor.
The new assessment concluded that the revenue could not be recognised until the construction was completed. As a result, La Liga informed Barcelona that they were once again operating outside of the ‘Fair Play’ limits.
Barcelona then urged Limak to complete the construction before 30 June, the closing date for the financial year. Limak committed to finishing by mid-May, a target that has now been met.
The Blaugrana are currently awaiting a final decision from La Liga to confirm their return to the 1:1 rule for the summer transfer market.
Operating under the 1:1 rule would allow Barcelona to reinvest all revenue generated from player sales or wage reductions due to loans, which will be a major boost heading into the summer.