Hansi Flick can breathe a little easier. After weeks of uncertainty, FC Barcelona seems close to being able to register its most recent signings.
The wait had created tension in the locker room and complications in sports planning. With less than five days left before the summer transfer window closes, every move is crucial.
The return to the 1:1 rule didn't come in time to organize the squad as usual. This forced the club to look for extraordinary solutions. Flick, meanwhile, has kept calm; he knows that patience is about to pay off.
Personal guarantees, the emergency solution
For the fourth consecutive year, personal guarantees are once again the lifeline for the club to comply with registration limits. Before the start of LaLiga 25/26, Barcelona had already presented a guarantee of €7 million. This allowed Joan García and Marcus Rashford to be registered.
Now, the strategy will be repeated with an even higher amount. Gerard Martín and Roony Bardghji are the players who need to be registered before the window closes. The board trusts that this mechanism will solve, at least temporarily, the situation of both footballers.
Departures that don't free up space
The problem is that not all departures create space in the squad. Héctor Fort and Oriol Romeu haven't brought in any money yet. Fort will go out on loan after renewing, and Romeu is heading for a contract termination, so the spots for Gerard Martín and Bardghji aren't automatically freed up.
In Wojciech Szczesny's case, the solution is simpler. His registration will be activated when Iñaki Peña leaves for Elche. The Polish player will be able to take his place without major issues.
Alternatives to avoid another guarantee
The board is studying two ways to avoid relying on multi-million guarantees. The first is to count the €100 million from the sale of 475 VIP seats at the new Spotify Camp Nou. With that income, the club would have enough margin to register all pending players.
The second option is to make a major player sale; Marc Casadó and Fermín López are attracting interest from European clubs. Their transfers could bring in between €120 million and €130 million to the blaugrana coffers. However, neither Casadó nor Fermín seem willing to leave at this final stage.
The market remains open
Meanwhile, Barça isn't ruling out a final signing. Cameroonian striker Etta Eyong from Villarreal remains on the radar. His signing would be around €5 million, with the idea of immediately loaning him to another LaLiga club.
For Flick, the combination of guarantees and possible sales is a relief. He'll finally be able to count on all his available players to face the season. The uncertainty is decreasing, but the clock is still ticking; the market closes on September 1 at 11:59 p.m., and every decision will be decisive.