Barcelona STRUGGLING to register new signing and ex-Chelsea star

21 Aug 2023 17:12 BST
3 min read

Barcelona are still struggling to register all their first team players with La Liga, with Marcos Alonso among several players who have yet to be assured of their futures at the club.

The Catalan side’s financial issues have caused controversy in recent times and La Liga had previously told Barca they could not register new signings until they resolve the concerns with the league’s Financial Fair Play rules.

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While summer arrivals Ilkay Gundogan and Oriol Romeu have been able to sign for Barca and feature in the team for the new season, Alonso joins Inigo Martinez and goalkeeper Inaki Pena in being left in limbo.

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Alonso signed on a free transfer from Chelsea last year, making 37 appearances in all competitions for Xavi’s side, and the Spaniard remains an important figure in the team as the only alternative to Alejandro Balde at left-back.

Martinez, meanwhile, was signed from Athletic Bilbao this summer but Barca have opted against registering him while he recovers from an injury.

SPORT claim Alonso has no intention of leaving Barca and that the 32-year-old’s registration should be resolved when the departures of Sergino Dest and Clement Lenglet are confirmed, with both players in talks to leave.

What are Barcelona’s plans for the remainder of the transfer window?

Barca were hoping to avoid financial issues by raising money through player sales this summer, in order to fund transfer business similar to last year, when they spent more than €150 million on signings.

However, the club have sold just two players for fees this summer, with Ousmane Dembele joining Paris Saint-Germain for €50m and Franck Kessie leaving for Saudi Arabia in a €12.5m deal.

As a result, Barca have been unable to bring in targets such as Bernardo Silva, Ivan Fresneda and Joao Cancelo, although the club are hopeful to add a right-back before the transfer deadline.

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Any further moves will depend on the sale of Lenglet, with Dest having joined PSV Eindhoven on loan, although speculation is also rife over the future of Ansu Fati, who could be sold on if more money is needed to be raised.