Barcelona must sell players to fund January signings, confirms Ferran Olive

Barcelona’s winter plans hinge on outgoing transfers

Barcelona will need to sell players before they can spend in the January transfer window, according to the club’s economic vice-president Ferran Olive. Speaking to Cadena Ser, Olive confirmed the Blaugrana expect to be in a healthier financial position at the turn of the year but made clear that any reinvestment in the squad is conditional on departures.

“We will have a positive Fair Play record in January,” Olive said, before adding a crucial caveat: “we would have to sell players” to invest further in the squad.

The comments come with the summer window barely shut and persistent speculation that Barcelona could revisit their interest in Julian Alvarez in the winter, or look to add another defender to the ranks.

Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Olive

‘We had a negative fair play record — it’s taken five years to get to 1-1’

Olive offered a candid assessment of the financial recovery overseen by the current board, describing the state of the club when they arrived and the slow road back to stability.

“For the first team to function, you have to provide the necessary tools. It’s about winning. When we arrived, we were lacking fuel. We had a negative fair play record. It’s taken us five years to get to 1-1; it hasn’t been easy,” he said.

Camp Nou renovation remains the top priority

Olive insisted that finishing the ongoing renovation of the Camp Nou is his number one concern, framing it as the engine of the club’s commercial future.

“My biggest concern, my number one priority, is finishing the stadium. With the stadium finished and the team functioning, sponsors will come in and we’ll sell more in the stores. It’s a virtuous cycle. That’s why we’re asking members to increase their funding limit, because it’s the cornerstone of the project,” he explained.

Barcelona will temporarily move out of the Camp Nou at the start of next season while renovation work is completed, with a return to the refurbished stadium currently expected in January 2028.