Speculation around FC Barcelona’s finances has surged again after a widely shared report suggested that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is weighing an extraordinary offer to buy the club. The figure being mentioned, €10 billion, has been enough to trigger global discussion even though there has been no official confirmation from Barcelona, its board, or Saudi representatives.
The story gained traction after Transfer News Live cited Spanish commentator François Gallardo as saying the crown prince was preparing a bid to acquire Barcelona outright. Other outlets have echoed the claim, with some reports even pushing the number higher. One version of the rumor describes a proposal presented in cash and without conditions, alongside a pledge to turn Barcelona into “the brightest constellation this sport has ever seen.”
If taken at face value, a €10 billion valuation would dwarf any previous sale in football and comfortably cover Barcelona’s estimated total debt, which many Spanish and international media place at around €2.5 billion. That burden is the legacy of years of heavy spending, long-term wage commitments and the costly Espai Barça stadium redevelopment, compounded by the sharp drop in revenue during the pandemic.
Despite repeated assurances from president Joan Laporta that the club is stabilizing, financial pressure remains a constant theme. Barcelona still owes significant sums to other clubs from past transfers, including payments related to deals for Raphinha and Jules Koundé, among others. The club must meet substantial obligations before the end of the current season to maintain balance in its accounts. It’s industry standard to pay for transfers in installments and most clubs carry debt at least sometimes. But Barcelona’s situation is a bit more precarious than a lot of other clubs.
All of this explains why rumors of outside rescue plans continue to resurface. Yet the idea of a full takeover runs into a fundamental obstacle. Barcelona is not a conventional private company. It is owned by its members, the socios, who elect the president and retain ultimate control over major decisions. Under this structure, selling the club outright would require approval from the membership and would face serious legal and institutional barriers under Spanish sports law.
Because of that, many analysts in Spain view the reported offer as symbolic or exploratory rather than a realistic attempt to change ownership. While Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has expanded aggressively into global sport and already owns Newcastle United, even vast resources cannot override Barcelona’s fan-owned governance model.
In theory, there are alternative paths. Barcelona could attract external capital by separating certain commercial activities into independent entities, a model reportedly explored by other major clubs. That could allow investment in areas like media or entertainment without handing over control of the sporting side. Even so, such arrangements fall far short of the sweeping acquisition implied by the current rumor.
The speculation also arrives against the backdrop of Saudi Arabia’s broader push into elite sport as part of its Vision 2030 strategy, using high-profile investments to boost international influence. That context has fueled both fascination and controversy, particularly given past criticism from human rights organizations over previous acquisitions linked to the kingdom.
