The world is revelling in Lionel Messi’s FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar, but with club football soon set to resume, the work does not stop at FC Barcelona, as they prepare for the upcoming game against RCD Espanyol as well as the January transfer window.
Heading into the second half of the season, there has been a lot of talk about Barça manager Xavi Hernandez wanting to strengthen his squad again in January with the signing of a new right-back and a midfielder
However, according to the latest reports from SPORT, the 42-year-old ‘understands’ that, as things stand, the club will be unable to sign any players in the upcoming transfer window due to the Financial Fair Play issues that are plaguing them.
Not long ago, president Joan Laporta had promised to reinforce the team again in January, with the plan being to take advantage of operating under the 1:1 rule to bring in at least two new faces.
However, soon after, Laporta had to change his tunes due to changes in La Liga’s salary cap rules, which, as things stand, do not offer any margin for Barcelona to make any new signings.
The sports management team has, as per the report, explained in detail to Xavi these changes to the La Liga Fair Play rules and the manager understands the situation and has accepted that he will have to work with the same squad for the remainder of the campaign and push for titles.
While incomings are now unlikely, the changing scenario has also meant that Barcelona might not sell fringe players in the winter either so that they do not weaken the squad, unless extraordinary offers arrive.
Barça are still competing for four titles – La Liga, UEFA Europa League, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. And Xavi has reportedly vowed to continue fighting on all fronts. So, in case there are no reinforcements, letting someone leave from the current squad would not be ideal.