Barcelona Women will be in an unjust position. With the club in financial disarray, the squad has been left undermanned and underappreciated. Their team is struggling to even fill a full matchday squad with only 17 first-teamers available. They lost some of their biggest talents this off-season—superstars Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Mariona Caldentey all left for rival clubs Chelsea and Arsenal. This latest drama raised fears for the prospects of the women’s team going forward. Instead, it has been used as a short term solution to the fiscal crisis facing the whole system.
LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play rules have turned the fortunes at FC Barcelona upside down. These rules now require strict limitations on how much the club can spend. As a result, the women’s team, despite generating nearly €18 million (£15.6 million) last season—outperforming prominent teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Real Madrid—faces a budget cut that jeopardizes its competitiveness. The team needs at least another €1 million (£867,350) to not go in the red, underscoring the urgency for a financial solution.
Xavi Vilajoana, a former director of Barcelona and instrumental in establishing the women’s team, has voiced his concerns regarding the current treatment of the women’s squad and La Masia, the club’s youth academy. He believes both have been worked to death—just for someone’s bottom line. They should be seen, and treated, as indispensable parts of the club’s character and destiny.
“What’s worse, instead of being treated like valuable parts of the club, Barca Women and La Masia have too often been treated as a quick fix for those financial mistakes, which is not how you build a sustainable future.” – Xavier Vilajoana
Barcelona Women have made significant strides in recent years, boasting world-class talent that includes Ballon d’Or and World Cup winners. Their recent success in Liga F, winning the league this past season under head coach Pere Romeu, showcases their ambition and competitive spirit. High-profile additions to the team’s vendor list include Fridolina Rolfo and Jana Fernandez. That has left the team considerably thinner than in years past. Without a full current roster, the lack of depth required for a grueling competition schedule is clear.
The management’s attitude towards the women’s team has been blasted as resources get tighter and tighter. Safety #3 Facilities, medical staff, and infrastructure are shared between the men’s teams, the women’s teams, and youth national teams. So when investments are trimmed, as they have been in recent years, it hits every part of the organization. That common imposed hierarchy begs the question of equity inside the organization.
“The problem is not being part of the same club as the men’s team. The problem is when leadership fails to apply the same standards of professionalism and long-term vision across all sections.” – Xavier Vilajoana
Even with these hurdles in place, Barcelona Women still have an ironclad brand and commercial allure, which keeps them drawing in players. It would be like the Yamato joining UNICEF, the temptation of which needs no elaboration. To continue building on this momentum, leadership should seek to understand the women’s team’s specific needs as they continue balancing the financial realities.
LaLiga has been adamant that all branches of FC Barcelona are financially interconnected, despite the fact that the women’s team has called for more independence. Separating from the men’s team would endanger that global platform. It would further erode the affiliation with the meaningful emotion evoked by involvement in FC Barcelona.
“Splitting the women’s team would risk losing the global platform and emotional connection that being Barca provides. It would take years to rebuild that identity from scratch.” – Xavier Vilajoana
As Vilajoana underlines, what the women’s team needs isn’t independence from structural machismo but respect and fair treatment from the people in charge. Instead, he advocates a long-term vision that understands each ingredient within the club’s fabric as integral to its overall success.
“Barcelona management needs a long-term vision that treats every part of the club with respect.” – Xavier Vilajoana
As FC Barcelona continues to weather this storm, their short-term goals of improving the squad must align with their long-term, higher vision. Putting greater reliance on upcoming youth talent from La Masia can help give some relief in filling gaps left by departing players. This strategy is going to need some serious planning and investment in player development to see pay off on the pitch.
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