Barcelona in Race Against Time to Register Rashford for La Liga Opener
Catalan giants face familiar registration headache as financial constraints threaten new signings’ availability
Barcelona, August 15, 2025 – Barcelona find themselves in a familiar predicament just hours before their La Liga season opener against Mallorca, with Marcus Rashford’s registration hanging in the balance due to the club’s ongoing financial fair play complications.
President Joan Laporta has admitted that the England international may not be cleared in time for Saturday’s 19:30 kick-off at Son Moix, despite the club’s frantic last-minute efforts to expedite the legal process.
Financial Constraints Persist
The Catalan club remains €157 million over La Liga’s €426 million spending limit, creating a significant obstacle for player registrations. This financial overhang means seven senior players currently sit unregistered, including the high-profile summer signing Rashford.
“We’re having an intense week,” Laporta acknowledged, as the club scrambles to achieve financial fair play compliance. The situation has become even more pressing following the recent departure of Inigo Martinez to Al-Nassr, which was expected to provide some financial relief.
Garcia Registration Prioritized
While Barcelona appear confident of registering goalkeeper Joan Garcia in time for the season opener, Rashford’s case proves more complex. Garcia’s registration has been fast-tracked following Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury, making the keeper’s availability a priority for coach Hansi Flick.
The club is banking on final approval for the sale of VIP seats at the newly redeveloped Spotify Camp Nou—a deal worth close to €100 million—alongside additional financial guarantees to meet La Liga’s strict 1:1 spending rule.
Flick Faces Selection Uncertainty
Manager Hansi Flick must prepare for the Mallorca trip without certainty over his new signings’ availability. The German coach’s tactical planning has been complicated by the registration saga, though sources suggest Rashford remains confident in the club’s efforts to finalize his paperwork.
Familiar Territory for Barcelona
This latest registration crisis underscores the ongoing financial strain at Camp Nou, where every transfer move continues to face rigorous scrutiny from La Liga officials. The club’s supporters will be hoping for a positive resolution before kick-off, but time is rapidly running out.
The saga serves as another reminder of Barcelona’s precarious financial position, which has plagued recent transfer windows and forced the club into increasingly creative solutions to comply with league regulations.
Barcelona travel to Mallorca for their La Liga opener on Saturday, August 16, with kick-off scheduled for 19:30 local time.