FC Barcelona’s New Nike Deal Still Won’t Be Enough To Register New Player

FC Barcelona's new sponsorship deal with Nike still won't be enough to re-register summer signings such as Dani Olmo and Pau Victor, plus Andreas Christensen, at the same time as pointed out by SPORT.

Friday evening in Europe saw the same newspaper and other outlets report that Barca has sealed a contract extension with the American sportswear giant.

Mundo Deportivo and Culemania director Victor Malo say that the 14-year arrangement will pay the Catalans $1.82 billion (€1.7 billion) which can therefore make it the biggest sponsorship deal in soccer history.

It has been suspected that the cash injection will be enough to take care of Barca's immediate Financial Fair Play (FFP) issues and allow it to return to the 1:1 rule.

In addition to this, there would also be no problems sorting out the registration muddle related to Olmo, Pau Victor and Christensen.

Last summer, when Olmo and Pau Victor were brought in as new signings, there were issues related to clearing them to play which were only resolved when Barca used Christensen's long-term injury as a loophole.

That approach was merely kicking the can down the road, however, and in January Barca was expected to have to jump hurdles in making sure all three men could be registered to play the rest of the season under Hansi Flick.

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As SPORT explains, though, the problem isn't something that will be ticked off by the Nike deal.

The newspaper reminds us how President Joan Laporta said that "there was around €60 million ($64.3 million) missing, but we already had a few accounted for and let's say that we would be missing €35 million ($37.5 million)" a few weeks ago, as per the money that needs to be made up.

"We don't have to suffer because of the registrations of Pau Victor and Dani Olmo because we are working and we will achieve them, as we have always done. But this does not fall from the sky, you have to work and put in the effort," Laporta added.

Yet even if Barca receives the reported €45 million ($48.2 million) a season from Nike, only €10 million ($10.7 million) can be put on the books this season in terms of FFP.

To get the trio registered then, Barca may be forced to seek new sponsors or even make player sales in the January transfer window.