Barcelona on standby: LaLiga’s double verdict to decide squad fate ahead of season opener
Barcelona’s start to the 2025/26 LaLiga season is hanging in the balance, with the club waiting on two pivotal decisions from LaLiga — one financial and one medical — that could dramatically affect Hansi Flick’s ability to field a fully reinforced squad this weekend.
The Return of the 1:1 Rule — A Game-Changer for Barcelona’s Finances
LaLiga currently operates under strict financial fair play regulations designed to prevent clubs from overspending. For Barcelona, who have been operating under the far more restrictive 1:4 rule (meaning they could only reinvest 25% of any money saved or earned), this has been a huge obstacle in registering players and making signings.
However, league officials are on the verge of reinstating the 1:1 rule for compliant clubs. If approved, every €1 generated from sales, sponsorships, or wage savings could be fully used for player registrations.
For Barcelona, this is massive news. The club has already raised €75 million through:
- Outgoing transfers of non-essential squad members.
- Sponsorship renewals and commercial deals negotiated over the summer.
- Salary restructuring for certain high earners.
Up until now, that money has been locked away by the 1:4 constraint. Once LaLiga confirms the 1:1 policy’s return, Barça could immediately use that €75M to register players already signed or re-signed — including those who have been training with the squad but are still technically ineligible to feature in competitive fixtures due to FFP restrictions.
This would be a relief for Flick, who has been carefully preparing tactical plans but still faces uncertainty about which players will actually be available for the season opener.
Ter Stegen’s Injury and the Joan Garcia Dilemma
The second decision is more medical than financial, but it’s equally important. Barcelona are waiting for the verdict of LaLiga’s Medical Commission regarding goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen.
The German shot-stopper has been sidelined with a significant injury, and the commission must determine his official recovery timeline:
- If Ter Stegen is expected to be out for five months or longer, Barcelona will be allowed to use 80% of his annual salary towards registering a replacement.
- If the recovery time is four months or less, they will only be permitted to use 50% of his salary.
Why does this matter? Because Barcelona have lined up Joan Garcia as the temporary replacement, but registering him before Saturday’s opening match depends entirely on which percentage LaLiga approves.
Without this clearance, Garcia might be unavailable for the first fixtures, leaving Barça with a potential depth issue in one of the most crucial positions on the pitch.
Time Pressure and the Bigger Picture
With the LaLiga season kicking off in just days, the urgency could not be higher. These two rulings are intertwined:
- The 1:1 rule decision would give Barcelona the financial room to register all pending players, including new signings.
- The Medical Commission ruling will determine how much budget can be freed specifically for a goalkeeper replacement.
In short, if LaLiga delivers positive verdicts on both fronts, Flick could have a near-complete squad ready for the opener. If not, Barcelona could be forced into makeshift solutions, possibly starting the season with key reinforcements still unregistered and gaps in their matchday squad.
For the club, it’s another reminder of how their off-field financial constraints remain as much of a challenge as their on-field opponents. For fans, it means waiting a few more tense days to see exactly what kind of Barcelona takes the pitch on opening weekend