- Qatar wants to buy Espanyol FC to rival Barca
- Nasser Al-Khelaifi -EU FA should investigate Barca’s use of economic leverage in the summer transfer window.
Khelaifi is chairman of Qatar Sports Investment Fund (QSI), PSG and beIN Sports, but he is not the most vocal figure at PSG.
QSI is a subsidiary of Qatar National Investment Fund (QIA) – with total assets in 2021 estimated at $450 billion.
At the head of the QIA foundation is Qatar’s King Al Thani.
Qatar’s King Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is planning to acquire Espanyol to thwart Barca’s power in Catalonia.
Spanish newspaper Sport reported that Al Thani had directed PSG chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi to negotiate the acquisition of Espanyol.
The two sides are ready to negotiate the case. If favorable, Qatar will have espanyol in the next few months.
Espanyol FC is owned by Chinese company Rastar Group, with Chen Yansheng as chairman. Chen bought a 56% stake in Espanyol FC in 2015 for $19 million. The team’s equity is $127 million.
Espanyol FC haven’t been doing well on and off the pitch lately. They are relegated to La Liga 2019-2020, despite returning to the Spanish championship for the 2021-2022 season.
In 2021, their salary fund accounted for 129% of revenue.
Qatar wants to acquire Espanyol the way Saudi Arabia are doing with Newcastle.
Espanyol FC have never won La Liga, but have won the Copa del Rey four times. They are the second biggest club in Catalonia, behind only Barca.
Qatar’s move further strained relations between PSG and Barca. On September 28, Khelaifi also suggested that UEFA should investigate barca’s use of financial leverage.
He was “not sure Barca’s job was legitimate”.
In 2021, Barca reported a loss of $ 566 million, the heaviest deficit in football history.
But a year later, they recruited a series of rookies such as Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde or Marcos Alonso, thanks to four times of financial leverage.
- Nasser Al-Khelaifi -EU FA should investigate Barca’s use of economic leverage in the summer transfer window.
PSG used to be in the founding group of Super League, before withdrawing due to outcry in April 2021.
Currently, only Barca, Real and Juventus persistently pursue this goal.
“I am really sure that no one will allow the Super League to take place,” Al-Khelaifi said.
“We need to think of people, not just ourselves. We have to respect the fans.”
According to Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the European Football Association should investigate Barca’s use of economic leverage in the summer transfer window.
“Is this fair? No, it’s not fair. Is it legal? I’m not sure,” Al-Khelaifi said on September 28 when asked about Barca’s use of economic leverage.
According to the PSG president, UEFA has its own financial regulations.
If Barca are comfortable using leverage, other clubs may follow suit. Therefore, he asked European football’s governing body to “look at everything” about Barca.
This summer, Barca sold 25% of the La Liga TV rights for 25 years and 49% of Barca Studios.
With the amount collected about $ 800 million, Barca reported interest in the fiscal year 2021-2022 and has the budget to sign new players.
Barca’s transfer window even became the focus of European football.
Not only did they sign Andreas Christensen and Marcos Alonso from Chelsea for free, but they also overtook the club for Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Kounde and extended them to Ousmane Dembele.
The total amount spent by Barca is $ 160 million, lower than the more than $ 200 million of Chelsea and Man Utd.
The new players are all making a positive contribution to Barca. Lewandowski scored 11 goals in eight games, while Raphinha, Franck Kessie and Christensen all joined quickly.
