manager Julian Nagelsmann has questioned how have been able to sign top players like Robert Lewandowski given their well-documented financial problems.
Barcelona confirmed the signing of Lewandowski from Bayern on Tuesday after a long transfer saga where the prolific Polish striker pushed for a move from the Allianz Arena to the Camp Nou.
The 33-year-old, who had just one year left on his Bayern deal, has cost the La Liga giants £40million but many, Nagelsmann included, cannot fathom how they have been able to sign anyone in light of their colossal debt.
‘It is the only club in the world that have no money, but then buy all the players they want,’ the German said.
‘I don’t know how they do it. It’s a bit strange, a bit crazy.’
Barcelona are said to be in debt of over £1billion, thanks in part to excessive spending in the market over the past five years.
As a result, the club were unable to offer star player Lionel Messi a new contract last summer, with the Argentine reluctantly leaving the club on a free to PSG, yet since then a flurry of new players have arrived at the Camp Nou.
£50m was spent on Ferran Torres from Manchester City in January, while Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia, Sergio Aguero and Pierre-Emmerick Aubameyang were picked up for free, albeit on huge wages.
In addition to Lewandowski, this summer Xavi’s side have also signed Leeds’ Raphinha for £52m, as well as Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen on a free from AC Milan and Chelsea, however the latter two could not initially be registered at the club due to financial regulations.
La Liga rules currently state that Barcelona can only spend £1m for every £4m it offloads, and as such the club are, mostly unsuccessfully, trying to sell several high-profile names to raise funds.
So far, Phillipe Coutinho’s permanent move to Aston Villa and Clement Lenglet’s loan to Tottenham are the only significant outgoings, while the big money sale of Frenkie De Jong to Manchester United has once again stalled because the player is not keen on leaving Spain.
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