Barcelona still at risk of financial meltdown despite signing record-shattering €1.7bn kit deal with Nike

Catalan giants Barcelona may still have huge financial problems despite extending their hugely lucrative kit deal with Nike until 2038.

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• Barca have struggled with finances in recent years
• Have extended kit deal with Nike
• Will not magically balance books

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  For years now Barca have had to manage their squad accordingly due to huge financial strains on the club. It has meant letting players like Lionel Messi, Ilkay Gundogan, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann all leave to save money on wages or free up space to register new arrivals. Butthe Spanish giants have penned a mammoth €1.7bn (£1.4bn/$1.8bn) extension with kit manufacturers Nike, which will see them produce jerseys for the Catalan club for another 14 years.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It speaks volumes of Barca's debt that the deal with Nike may not be enough to allow them to operate how they once could when it comes to signing players. They still have stadium renovations ongoing, board members have had to cough up millions to keep the club within LamLiga's financial fair play rules and they owe a lot of money elsewhere, including €200 million (£166m/$211m) that was recorded but never evidenced. So while they are on the right track, there is still a lot of work to be done for Barca to reignite themselves as a financial juggernaut in the world of football.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  By not playing at the Camp Nou this season, Barca are forfeiting over €70m (£58m/$74m) by having a smaller ground rather than the 99,000+ their home can seat.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCA?

  It is unlikely Barca will be able to go out and sign someone like Kylian Mbappe or Rodri next summer. For now, they will have to continue investing in their youth and using Lamine Yamal as an example of what a good pathway through the academy can do.