Excl. interview with Barça VP: What happened to sale of Barça Studios?

One of the palancas that caused the most confusion was the sale of 49% of Barça Studios. Because the money from Orpheus and Socios.com did not arrive, nor did the money that Libero was due afterwards. The club's vice president for finance Eduard Romeu explains it all in an interview with SPORT. He hopes that the missing €40 million will arrive this winter. He admits that it will help in the sporting field, highlighting the effort that has been made to reduce the wage bill and the debt that has been eliminated.

One of the palancas was the sale of Barça Studios. What happened with Orpheus and Socios.com and later with Libero?

It was already agreed with [Orpheus and Socios] that if there were other interested investors, it would be studied. Each of them kept 22.5%. They paid €10m each and committed to pay €30m each over the next three years (€180m total). Other investors wanted to enter the operation: Nipa and Libero. Nipa contributed €20m and took over part of Orpheus' outstanding share. Libero was to contribute €40m. It was agreed that they would pay it in the last quarter of the year. In August, we tried to kill two birds with one stone. To anticipate this payment and to fulfil the transaction and be able to register players. They asked us for a series of additional requirements that we did not feel comfortable with, so in order to register players, the board decided to present a guarantee and now we continue to negotiate with Libero, having the negotiating power. With them and with other groups. 

What happened with the flotation of Barça Vision?

It was one of the requirements. I think it is a good operation, but I think we have to manage the timing and not the investor. I think we need time to present a more mature business that will allow us to have more value in the future.

Should the €40m arrive before the end of the year?

There is no date, but we are targeting the last quarter of the year. Besides, it is clear to everyone that it will be able to help with other things, although mixing business with registrations is not preferable.

So there will be money in the winter market to strengthen the squad?

In two and a half years we have been able to meet the needs of the coaches, so if it comes to it we will make every effort to meet their requests.

Speaking of players, how do you define the reduction in the wage bill that has taken place?

It was essential. We had to bring it down to the levels recommended by UEFA. We have the added difficulty of having sections [other sports teams], but we are going to reach €492m. We came down from €676m with the majority of years above €600m. The squad is younger and more competitive, with many players with a higher market value. Moreover, we have done it by honouring contracts, without putting our hand in the players' pockets and respecting the 'Més que un Club' by not accepting sponsorship contracts with a lot of money but with values that are not aligned with Barça.