Marcus Rashford’s hopes of making his Barcelona loan permanent have been hit by new LaLiga salary restrictions.
The Catalan club’s spending power has been slashed by almost £100million in the latest official figures.
The Manchester United loanee has made an eye-catching start to life in Spain, scoring twice on his return to England in the Champions League win over Newcastle United this week.
But despite his flying form, the Spanish champions are now working within a dramatically reduced wage limit that threatens to block major future signings.
According to reports in Spain, LaLiga announced on Friday that Barcelona’s official salary cap for the 2025-26 season has been cut from €463million to €351m, a drop of €112m.
The limit represents how much each club can spend on wages and other squad costs. If a team exceeds it LaLiga will not register new players to play in official competitions.
Marcus Rashford’s hopes of making his Barcelona loan permanent have been hit by new LaLiga salary restrictions
LaLiga announced on Friday that Barcelona ‘s official salary cap for the 2025-26 season has been cut by €112m. Pictured: LaLiga president Javier Tebas
The reduction is understood to be linked to a disputed financial mechanism relating to VIP hospitality boxes at the Camp Nou.
The club’s previous auditors had counted €100m raised by selling 25 years of future revenues from 475 executive boxes as income.
Their current auditors have refused to certify that money, meaning it could not be included in the salary calculations.
Barcelona’s ongoing stadium exile has also hit their bottom line. They have been forced to play home fixtures at temporary venues, most recently the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium, while the Nou Camp undergoes a £1.25billion redevelopment.
Senior LaLiga figures have said this loss of matchday income has seriously reduced the club’s room to manoeuvre in the transfer market.
The Catalans pulled off the loan signing of Rashford from Manchester United in the summer alongside a £30m move for goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Their reduced limit means they may have to find new revenue sources or offload players before committing to a long-term deal for the 27-year-old.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas said this week that Barcelona’s summer business had reflected the current state of the club’s finances.
‘They showed they could add players, in line with their situation,’ he said, adding that the club’s results on the pitch remained strong.
have been forced to play home fixtures at temporary venues while the Nou Camp undergoes a £1.25billion redevelopment
According to The Athletic, Barcelona sources have insisted they have no issue with the new limit.
They believe a return to the Camp Nou will help regularise the situation by boosting matchday income and unlocking the full VIP boxes deal. The club are still awaiting the final €100m payment on that operation.
Rashford has admitted publicly that he is enjoying his time in Spain and feels it is making him a better player. But with LaLiga tightening the belt on wage bills and Barcelona still juggling huge redevelopment costs, a permanent move looks far from straightforward.
Until their stadium is reopened and revenue streams stabilise, Barcelona will have to comply with LaLiga’s reduced salary cap.
