Barcelona present accounts for the end of the 2020-21 financial year, with losses of €481m (£409m); revenue dropped by 26 per cent with the club citing the Covid-19 pandemic as a primary reason; CEO Ferran Reverter says the club supported the Super League due to FFP concerns.

Sky Sports

Barcelona’s accounts presented a loss of €481m (£409m) for the end of the 2020-21 financial year – but how has it come to this?

In August, Barcelona president Joan Laporta opened up on the “very worrying” financial situation when revealing the club are €1.35bn (£1.15bn) in debt.

A summary of their accounts at the closure of the 2020-21 season shows the club recorded a 26 per cent, €224m (£191m), drop in revenue from the previous year, citing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as a primary reason.

Barcelona said the estimated impact of Covid-19 is €181m (£154m), mainly due to the inability to open both the stadium and other club facilities.

Operating expenses increased by 19 per cent to €1.136bn (£967m), an all-time record figure at the club, while transfer income was €56m (£48m), a decrease of €92m (£78m).