Barcelona’s Xavi gives Real Madrid upper hand in race for Mbappe

FC Barcelona's coach, Xavi Hernandez, has made it clear that the club is currently not in a financial position to pursue high-profile signings like Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe or Manchester City's Erling Haaland, giving rivals, Real Madrid an open road to go for both players in the summer.

This statement reflects Barcelona's ongoing financial challenges, which have been a topic of discussion in recent years.

During the 2017-2019 period, Barcelona invested heavily in players such as Philippe Coutinho, Antoine Griezmann, and Ousmane Dembele, with transfer fees exceeding 100 million euros each.

However, these large expenditures have significantly impacted the club's financial flexibility, making it difficult to consider additional high-cost signings in the near future.

Xavi emphasised the need to work with the current squad, underscoring the importance of focusing on winning titles and maintaining high-performance levels.

He acknowledged the club's economic constraints and the necessity of being pragmatic in their approach to transfers and team development.

Despite these financial limitations, Barcelona remains competitive in La Liga, and the defending champions are currently holding the fourth position in the league, trailing the leaders, Real Madrid, by 10 points.

Xavi's focus is on maximising the potential of the existing squad and ensuring that the team continues to compete at a high level.

This situation at Barcelona is indicative of the broader financial landscape in European football, where even historically wealthy clubs are facing economic pressures and are required to make strategic decisions regarding player acquisitions and squad management.