FC Barcelona are about to receive a $200 million boost after selling Barca Studios.
FC Barcelona are set to receive a lifeline from a Mexican investment firm which has agreed to buy 49% of Barca Studios for €180 million ($197.2 million) according to popular YouTube channel Mas Que Pelotas.
Barca sold two 24.5% stakes of their media arm for €100 million ($110 million) to Socios.com and Orpheus Media last summer, as part of their 'economic levers' manoeuvring.
Each firm allegedly paid an initial €10 million ($11 million), but they then both missed a June 2023 deadline and asked for a delay to hand over €30 million ($33 million) separately as reported by COPE.
This left a €60 million ($66 million) hole in Barca's accounts at a time when they desperately need to balance the books in order to buy new players and register them - plus the fresh contracts of existing stars - while successfully navigating Financial Fair Play limits.
There were widespread reports that a German investment group would come to the rescue by buying a 16% stake of Barca Studios for €65 million ($72.2 million). Last week, however, Esport3 reported that the potential buyers had gotten cold feet.
According to Mas Que Pelotas and their head Adrian Sanchez, though, who has a considerable Twitter presence, all that might be irrelevant.
As per Sanchez's information, a Mexican investment fund has agreed to buy 49% of Barca Studios for €180 million which will allow Barca to register those that haven't been yet and also compete in the transfer market.
The news, if true, will come as a relief to Barca fans and the club. Ever since he joined on a free transfer, there have been reports about ex-Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan having a clause in his contract which allows him to leave on Sunday before the season opener against Getafe if the essential administration work with La Liga hasn't been completed by then.
Sanchez says club sources have told him that at least €30 million, possibly more, will be put up by the Mexican investment firm this week, and there could be additional cash incoming from the expected sales of Ousmane Dembele and Franck Kessie.
While Kessie reportedly passed his medical with Al-Alhi on Monday, sporting director Mateu Alemany confirmed on Tuesday that Dembele is currently in Paris where he should complete a €50 million ($55 million) transfer to PSG.
With three weeks left until the close of the summer window, Barca might now have the funds to seriously go after someone such as Gundogan's ex-Etihad teammate Bernardo Silva and also pursue a right back.
Sanchez expects that with the mentioned departures and the incoming money from Mexico, Barca can sign two players with high salaries or three with mid-level earnings.
