LaLiga's double standard and its 'Fair Play' with the 'levers' of Barça and Valencia

The deadline for registrations in LaLiga is September 1st. For this reason, the clubs are moving to comply with the financial 'Fair Play', since they could not register players on the first date of LaLiga EA Sports 25/26. The Valencia found a solution to solve their situation.

The club chaired by Kiat Lim has used the commitments acquired by the sale of the tertiary land annexed to the Nou Mestalla to be able to add salary mass that allows it to reach a financial balance. LaLiga has valued the documentation to approve this 'lever' and the Valencian team has greater room for maneuver in this transfer period.

Valencia's 'lever' was approved and Barça still has to wait

According to information from 'Cadena Ser', Valencia received financing between 25 and 30 million euros weeks ago to alleviate its economic situation before the start of the 25/26 season. This allowed the 'che' club to finalize the signing of Filip Ugrinić, and hopes to make more incorporations.

On the other hand, Barça has had problems with LaLiga and the management of the VIP seats of the Spotify Camp Nou has not yet been approved. Xavi O'Callaghan, director of sections of LaLiga, explained what the situation of the azulgrana club is with the 'Fair Play'.

“Fair play depends on the expected income. If you tell LaLiga 'this year I will make this income', you have not done it yet, you are saying that you will do it. And the interpretation of the income from the VIP seats, for example, for Barça is one and for LaLiga is another. And here there is a difference and here there is a fight”

FC Barcelona already has the reports from its auditor, Crowe Spain, and is working with LaLiga to have them certified. This is key to returning to rule 1:1 and thus being able to finish registering players such as Wojciech Szczęsny, Roony Bardghji and Gerard Martín.

However, LaLiga's double standard for auditing income is striking. The employer, although initially gave the 'Ok' to the 100 million euros derived from the sale of the exploitation rights of 475 VIP seats of the culé temple, later paused the income until receiving the auditable report from Crowe.

The dream of the Nou Mestalla is still far away for Valencia

In May 2024, the Valencian team reached an agreement with the company Atitlan Desarrollos Inmobiliarios (subsidiary of Grupo Atitlan) for the sale of the tertiary land annexed to the Nou Mestalla on Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas, which will have Área Desarrollo (subsidiary of Grupo Simetría) in its execution phase.

It is expected that the Nou Mestalla will be ready for the summer of 2027. This scenario began to be built in 2007, but its construction was paralyzed in 2009. For the present year, 16 years later, the works were resumed. The future home of Valencia will be able to receive up to 70,000 spectators. Even so, the Valencian club continues to obtain income from the sale of assets linked to the stadium.