Barcelona make €40m agreement official to ease salary limit issues

Barcelona have officially announced a deal with US multinational Aramark to take over shares in Bridgeburg Invest, the parent company of Barca Vision.

The Blaugrana have run into salary limit problems over the last 18 months, after investors in Barca Vision, which Barcelona sold 49.5%, Orpheus Media, Socios, Libero and NIPA made it clear they would not be paying more than the €60m already invested. A further €100m is due this summer, but investment fund Libero did not fund any of the €40m deal they struck.

Dani Olmo's presentation is scheduled for 11:00 tomorrow, followed by a press conference. @gerardromero

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 8, 2024

Now Barcelona have confirmed that the logistics, services and hospitality firm Aramark will pay the €40m that Libero did not, assuming their stake in Barca Vision. Aramark were already to be in charge of the catering for the renovated Camp Nou upon its return, and now they will not only be Barcelona’s partner in that regard, and with Barca Vision, but also for Espai Barca. They do not state any further details of the Espai Barca agreement but do say they will work to provide the best experience.

Aramark has a less-than-stellar reputation in the US due to multiple controversies.

In 2015, the state of Michigan dropped its contract with Aramark after the company was found to be feeding inmates less food than was contracted – which they claimed was done to cut costs.

MI… pic.twitter.com/6enQClFnIV

— Michael (@LaLigaMichael) August 7, 2024

This is a significant step towards Barcelona returning to within their salary limit, and thus being able to register players without restrictions. Last January the Blaugrana were believed to be around €200m in excess of their salary limit, but they hope to be able to wipe out that deficit this summer.