Barcelona In Financial Crisis Over Griezmann Deal, Neymar Move Might Fail

 

Neymar and Antoine Griezmann

Barcelona have admitted they had to take a loan, to pay for the signing of Antoine Griezmann.

Last week, the club deposited €120m at the offices of the Spanish League, to release Griezmann from his contract.

On Sunday when he was presented, the club’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, explained how they raised the money to pay the sum up front, as was necessary to activate the buy-out clause.

“The club has taken out a six-month unsecured loan for €35m and the remaining €85m [is covered by] anticipating payments yet to be received,” Bartomeu said.

Barcelona are due money for players such as Andre Gomes from Everton.

The need for the loan, highlights the fact that the club have no money to spend on transfers this summer, having already bought Frenkie de Jong.

This also cast doubts over the LaLiga champions’ ability to bring Neymar back from Paris Saint-Germain.

Barca sold Neymar to PSG for €222m and the Ligue 1 giants will no doubt be asking for a fee in that range to do a deal.