Barça in Trouble! The Key to Unlocking 'Fair Play' Lies in the VIP Boxes

FC Barcelona needs LaLiga to account for the 100 million euros derived from the sale of the exploitation rights of 475 VIP boxes at Spotify Camp Nou to return to the 1:1 rule and be able to sign without restrictions in the upcoming summer transfer market. Although the operation had already been included in Barça's profits for the 2024-25 fiscal year, the league reversed its decision due to the report from the club's financial auditor, Crowe Auditores, which conditioned this income on the operations of the boxes in the renovated culé temple.

Therefore, Barça is required to demonstrate that the commercial area will be fully completed and operational for the upcoming campaign before the next June 30 if it intends to account for those 100 million in the 24-25 fiscal year. Otherwise, the club will remain over its salary cap in the next transfer window, handcuffed not only for signing but also for updating the contracts of players pending renewal, including Lamine Yamal, Frenkie de Jong, and Wojciech Szczesny.

Barça Pressures Limak to Complete the Construction of the Boxes

In this regard, the Barça board has already notified the construction company responsible for the works at Spotify Camp Nou, Limak Construction, of the urgency to finish the work on the boxes to resolve the financial mess with LaLiga. Initially, the club will finish the season in Montjuïc, and everything is already arranged for that, but there is still a minimal possibility of having the Estadi ready to host the last two league matches, against Real Madrid (matchday 35) and Villarreal (matchday 37) at Les Corts.

Regardless of whether this happens or not, the priority is to have the first two galleries and the box area fully operational in May. According to information leaked by 'Mundo Deportivo', even though the club has not received the full 100 million euros from New Era Visionary Group (United Arab Emirates, 70M € for 350 seats) and Fortia Advisor Limited (Qatar, 30M € for 125 seats), it is sufficient to have physical proof confirming the delivery and operability of the work for the auditor to submit the remaining documentation to LaLiga.

So far, Barça has already received 58 million of the 100 due. The remaining 42 are the responsibility of the investor from the United Arab Emirates and must be deposited into the club's coffers between the end of this year and the first quarter of 2026, divided into two payments. Although it was initially thought that LaLiga would only approve the operation until the Estadi opens, everything depends on the 'ok' from Crowe Auditores.