Barcelona struggling to register new signings and new contracts again

Barcelona are once again struggling to register their new signings and anyone who has signed a contract, thanks to their financial levers going a bit wrong.

For the third summer in-a-row fans are being left a little baffled at how exactly Barcelona seem to have financial problems but also the ability to sign players all summer.

Last year was in particularly impressive with the signings of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde for over €150 million.

To balance it out the club had to sell but they couldn't shift everyone they wanted to get rid of, with Frenkie de Jong steadfastly refusing to leave.

It's been a much lower profile transfer window so far this summer for the Catalan giants who have so far signed Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez on free transfers.

With the problems that the club have had with being able to register players over the past few years, Gundogan has a clause that allows him to leave for free if he can't be registered.

And some teams might be keeping a keen eye on what's going on at the Nou Camp, thanks to the latest reports coming out of Spain.

With De Jong not leaving last year, the club sold a number of different rights to pull 'financial levers' and allow them to sign new players.

However according to Spanish outlet Cope, two of the companies who owe them money have failed to pay their latest installments.

Gundogan could soon leave for free. Image: Getty

The report claims that Orpheus Media and Socios.com bought 24.5% of Barca Studios each for a total of €200 million, but only paid €10 million-a-piece at the start.

They were due to pay the next €30 million on June 15th this summer, with the rest of the money split the same for the following Junes.

However it seems that neither have paid their first installment this summer, leaving the club down €60 million in their current finances.

There is a proposed delay for December, although Orpheus Media previously claimed they were up to date with their payments to the club.

Currently though Gundogan, Martinez, potential signing Oriol Romeu and current players who have signed new contracts, Sergi Roberto, Ronald Araujo and Marcos Alonso, can't be registered.

Topics: Barcelona, La Liga, Transfers, Spain, Ilkay Gundogan

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

@Sidler28