Football director: It’s difficult for Barca to sign anyone in January

It will be difficult for Barcelona to sign new players when the winter transfer window opens in January 2024, the club’s football director Deco admitted in an interview with Mundo Deportivo published on Tuesday.

Having struggled financially for years, Barca can only spend no more than 50 percent of the money they make or save because they went beyond La Liga’s spending limit of 270 million euros (about $285.4 million) for the 2023-24 season.

However, Barca’s expenditure didn’t go to transfers. The only signing they made in summer that cost money was landing Oriol Romeu from Girona for 3.4 million euros (about $3.6 million). By contrast, the club sold multiple players, including Ousmane Dembele to Paris Saint-Germain for 50 million euros (about $52.8 million), to make 105.4 million euros (about $111.4 million). However, they still face mountains of debt and smothering financial regulations.

“It will be difficult to sign anyone in January,” Deco said. “We are always ready in case an opportunity presents itself, but I don’t think it will be possible.”

Though Barca reached a deal with Athletico Paranaense to acquire Vitor Roque in January 2024, there is no guarantee that the transfer will happen.

“It doesn’t solely depend on the efforts of the club. There is a part that does, but there is also a part that doesn’t,” Deco said in the interview. “Vitor is a player we have signed for the present and the future. We really believe in him, but we will have to see what we can do. We have to wait and see how we can manage things. If it’s not now, it will be in July.”

Barca remain undefeated at the moment, both in La Liga and in the UEFA Champions League, but they haven’t faced much of real challenge as serious as the coming El Clasico against Real Madrid at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on October 28. Meanwhile, the Catalan club have to deal with increasing injuries of Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong and others.

That’s why Barca’s manager Xavi Hernandez wanted to sign more players to have every position doubled up. Roster depth matters too much to powerhouses like them that have to play in multiple competitions in one season.

While adding new players seems unlikely in January 2024, Deco has been busy negotiating extensions with the players Barca have. Both Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde have agreed to new deals. de Jong is Deco’s next mission.

“I have sent messages to the agents that I didn’t know to introduce myself, which was the case with Frenkie’s [agents], but we haven’t spoken about the renewal yet,” Deco said. “We like Frenkie a lot. He is the at the perfect age [26] for a footballer and he’s playing at a really good level. Frenkie is happy here and enjoying his football. It’s always the player who decides [their future]. He is under contract until 2026 and we want him to stay for many more years.”