Barcelona offered opportunity to ease financial burden by starting Qatari Franchise

Barcelona president Joan Laporta | Twitter

Barcelona offered opportunity to ease financial burden by starting Qatari Franchise

Ayoola Kelechi 23:58 - 22.06.2023

There could be a Barcelona Football Club franchise opening in Qatar according to reports in Spain

LaLiga champions Barcelona have been offered an opportunity to ease their current financial woes after being given the chance to own a Qatari Franchise of the club. 

Barcelona seek new ways to salvage financial problems

After a number of wayward seasons financially, Barcelona have found themselves on the verge of financial ruin, but the club has made efforts to climb back up the financial ladder, and a new opportunity has risen for the Blaugrana to continue on that path. 

Barcelona President Juan Laporta delivers a speech during a stakeholder engagement | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Barcelona President Juan Laporta delivers a speech during a stakeholder engagement | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has spent the last week visiting the Gulf state of Qatar as he looks to open new channels to fund the club with foreign investment, meeting with Bahadi Holding and its chairman, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah. 

Laporta’s meeting with the Qatari businessmen was believed to be about possible funding and partnerships with Bahadi Holding, but the relationship could now go beyond a one time investment. 

Barcelona offered franchising opportunities in Qatar

According to reports from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have been approached with opening a franchise team in the Qatari Premier League that will have the Spanish side as its parent company, but have investments from Qatari owners of the potential team.

According to MD, the potential club will be run in the same manner as Manchester City’s partner clubs like Girona, New York City FC, Melbourne City FC, Yokohama F. Marinos, and Mumbai City FC. 

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A new franchise could allow Barcelona to earn money from investments in the new club as well as franchising rights they sell to the new club. 

This could help the Blaugrana further steady their financial ship as they seek funds from new avenues with the Spotify Camp Nou stadium set to be closed for the entire 2023/24 season for repairs. 

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