Source: Givemesport
Security & Justice
State Action Signals Change in Tackling Longstanding Illegal Land Grabs in Jbeil District
For years, the serene villages of Jbeil's highlands have been far from peaceful. Ghabat, a Maronite village nestled between the predominantly Shiite towns of Afqa and Lassa, has become a focal point of growing tensions due to territorial disputes.
Friday, December 20, 2024
Mawlawi Ensures Strict Monitoring for Wanted Syrian Regime Figures at Beirut Airport
Caretaker Minister of Interior, Bassam Mawlawi, conducted an inspection tour of Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut to review the security arrangements and measures implemented by the Airport Security Apparatus ahead of the holiday season.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Opinion
Lebanon After the Assads
The United States has important equities in Lebanon, including a desire for a generally friendly government’s economic and political stability; security cooperation; long-standing relations with the large Christian community in Lebanon and Lebanese diaspora in the United States; and ultimately peace between Israel and Lebanon within a broader regional settlement. Achieving these objectives will require navigating a tumultuous period in the country’s history following a war between Hezbollah and Israel that has devastated a large part of the country, exacerbating Lebanon’s already challenging economic conditions. But perhaps the most important dynamic will be how a likely Sunni-dominated state of uncertain composition in Syria will differ in its intentions toward Lebanon from the previous Alawite-led minoritarian Assad regime.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Europe’s Syrian Dilemma
The news of the sudden and unexpected demise of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has met a mixed response in Europe. The jubilation that a murderous dictator and close ally of Russia and Iran has fallen is not just good for the Syrian people but serves as a morale booster for Eastern Europeans wondering whether Russia can be defeated
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo Unveils New Private Jet Worth $73 Million
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the richest global athletes, has unveiled his upgraded private jet reportedly worth $73 million. With its top-notch design, exceptional speed and range of 7500 nautical miles, the Gulfstream G650 is among the fastest jets in the world.
Monday, December 16, 2024
Guardiola Accepts Man City May Need to Sign More Players to Cope with Schedule
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes he will need a bigger squad to handle soccer’s ever-expanding fixture schedule.
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Wednesday 12 June 2024 16:56:27
Barcelona 'Unable to Register Nine Players' for 2024/25
Financial turmoil continues to plague Barcelona as they prepare for the new season, with the Blaugrana under pressure from La Liga yet again. According to a report from The Athletic, the Catalan club are unable to register 'nine senior players' for next season because of the league's salary limitations.
Barca have worked tirelessly to circumvent the restrictions placed upon them in recent years, activating several 'economic levers' to help them sign players. Club president Joan Laporta has sold parts of the club in order to bolster their finances, including 25% of the club's domestic TV revenue to U.S private equity firm Sixth Street, a deal which lasts 25 years.
But despite all the deals, the club still find themselves in a position where they need to cut costs, with reports even surfacing that they couldn't register new manager Hansi Flick because of their financial issues. The Athletic write that they need to raise €130m before June 30th 2024 because they spent over La Liga's salary limit in 2023/24.
Per the Mail, Barcelona's salary cap was reduced from €661m to €275m at the start of the 2023/24 season. To make matters even worse for the 27-time La Liga champions, that limit was then reduced once again in January 2024 to €207m.
Because of the limits, they have not only been able to act in the transfer market, but have also been unable to register some players already at the club. Both Sergi Roberto and Marcos Alonso are out of contract on June 30th and will have to be re-registered if they sign a new deal.
Both Inigo Martinez and Vitor Roque will become 'unregistered' on that date, according to The Athletic, as they were included in Barcelona's 2023/24 squad in 'unorthodox ways'. On top of that, deals for Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi and Hector Fort are all yet to be accepted by La Liga and Gavi's new contract with the club is also subject to a legal battle with the division's hierarchy.
To make matters even worse for Laporta and Flick, the club will also have many players returning from loan spells, with their salaries then added to the payroll. Ansu Fati, Clement Lenglet, Eric Garcia and Sergino Dest are four players who will likely either be loaned out again or sold permanently in order to alleviate some of the pressure on the club.
It is clear that several players will need to be moved on in the summer for Barcelona to comply with the newest set of restrictions given to them by La Liga. If they are to register some of the young talents that they have on their books, then that could mean that a top earner at the club is shown the door.
According to Capology, Frenkie de Jong's €735,750-per-week salary is quite some way ahead of his teammates, and the Dutchman is followed by Robert Lewandowski. Ilkay Gundogan, Jules Kounde and Joao Cancelo complete the top five, although the latter is on loan from Manchester City and will return to the club on June 30th.
De Jong has frequently been linked with a move to Manchester United, and his future could once again be subject to speculation given the worsening situation at the Camp Nou. Ronald Araujo, who earns €137,340-per-week, is another player who could reportedly be on the move too, and has been targeted by United.
