Barcelona navigate registration maze to bolster La Liga squad

However, the Catalan giants are still grappling with financial constraints to secure spots for Wojciech Szczesny and Gerard Martin, as they work to comply with La Liga's stringent salary cap regulations.

Joan Garcia, the former Espanyol goalkeeper, was cleared to play after La Liga approved Marc-Andre ter Stegen's long-term injury status following his back surgery. This allowed Barcelona to use a portion of ter Stegen's salary to register Garcia, who kept a clean sheet in the Mallorca win.

Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, was also registered after the club utilised a financial guarantee approved by their board, as confirmed by Sport. Rashford made an impact off the bench, with fans on X praising his pace and dynamism in the 3-0 rout.

"Joan Garcia's registration was crucial with Marc-Andre ter Stegen sidelined," a Barcelona official said. "Marcus Rashford's inclusion gives us a real edge, and we're thrilled to have him on board."

The club's focus now shifts to registering Wojciech Szczesny and Gerard Martin before their next match against Levante.

To create salary space for Szczesny, Barcelona are negotiating exits for Oriol Romeu and Inaki Pena. Oriol Romeu, with one year left on his contract, is in discussions for a mutual termination. Sources indicate both parties will need to compromise, with Romeu potentially forgoing part of his salary and Barcelona covering a portion post-exit.

For Pena, the club are planning a contract extension followed by a loan move, mirroring Ansu Fati's transfer to Monaco. "These steps should generate enough financial fair play room to register Wojciech Szczesny," a club source said.

Barcelona are also awaiting La Liga's approval of the Spotify Camp Nou VIP boxes, which could restore their 1:1 financial rule and ease future registrations.

"We're optimistic about the progress and expect to resolve these issues soon," president Joan Laporta said at a recent press conference. Delays in this approval forced the club to rely on the financial guarantee for Rashford's registration, a move that sparked debate among fans on X, with some questioning the club's financial strategy.

Martin, who must be registered with the first team due to his age, missed the Mallorca match but remains a priority. Young talents Roony Bardghji, Marc Bernal, and Hector Fort are less urgent, as they can be registered with Barca Atletic if needed.

With the transfer window closing on 1 September, Barcelona's strategic moves under Hansi Flick signal their intent to build a formidable squad for the 2025-26 campaign, despite the ongoing financial hurdles.