Why Barcelona is yet to register three players in La Liga squad

• Barcelona manager Xavi is without three first-team players for the start of the La Liga season
• Marcos Alonso, Inaki Pena, and Inigo Martinez are yet to be registered in the La Liga squad
• Of the three players, Alonso and Inaki are fully fit, whilst Martinez is sustaining an injury

Barcelona is seeing its preparations for the 2023/24 La Liga season have encountered complications as they grapple with the challenges posed by their ongoing financial troubles. The Catalan club finds itself in a situation where several key players, including Marcos Alonso, Inaki Pena, and the newly acquired Inigo Martinez, have yet to be officially registered for the campaign.

Barcelona’s financial woes have cast a long shadow over the club’s recent history, with perhaps the most painful episode being their inability to register Lionel Messi’s contract. This unfortunate turn of events ultimately led to the departure of the football legend to Paris Saint-Germain. The saga surrounding Messi’s exit laid bare the dire financial predicament Barcelona found itself in.

Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso is yet to be registered in the team’s La Liga squad for the season. | PHOTO: ESPN |

In the wake of Messi’s departure, Barcelona has repeatedly run afoul of La Liga’s salary cap regulations. In January 2023, they were barred by the league from making any permanent signings, and in the current summer transfer window, their bid to re-sign Messi was thwarted once again due to these financial constraints. Messi himself publicly acknowledged that the financial instability at Barcelona was a major factor in his decision to refrain from rejoining the club.

READ: How Barcelona made $98M profits after massive mega losses

Despite their inability to secure Messi’s return and their net spending standing at a substantial -£94.5 million this summer, with only one non-free agent signing, Oriol Romeu, for a reported £2.91 million, Barcelona is still grappling with the issue of player registrations.

However, even as the new season unfolds, Barcelona has yet to register Marcos Alonso, who extended his contract with the club in January, and Inaki Pena, the backup goalkeeper who signed a new deal just a few months ago in May. Unfortunately, there is currently no room for them in Xavi’s squad.

Inigo Martinez, the central defender who arrived on a free transfer from Athletic Club during the summer, also remains unregistered. His situation is further complicated by an injury sustained during pre-season, rendering him unavailable for selection anyway.

Despite the cloud of uncertainty surrounding their ability to comply with financial regulations, Barcelona is actively pursuing new signings. They are pushing forward with plans to secure the services of full-back Joao Cancelo on loan from Manchester City. An agreement has been struck with City, which entails Barcelona shouldering the majority of Cancelo’s wages for the 2023/24 season. Additionally, Barcelona holds the option to make the loan move permanent for a fee of £30 million.

In the face of their financial challenges, Barcelona is determined to navigate the complexities of player registrations while also making strategic moves in the transfer market. The coming weeks will be pivotal as the club seeks to strike a balance between financial stability and on-field competitiveness.