Saudi crown prince wants to buy FC Barcelona, offers €10 billion

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman may be considering a major investment in Spanish football club Barcelona, French journalist Francois Gallardo announced on X.

Gallardo says that the Crown Prince is prepared to make a €10 billion offer to acquire Barcelona, a move that would align with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to expand its presence in global sports, either through direct investments or via the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Caliber.Az reports.

The proposed bid comes as Barcelona faces significant financial challenges, including a debt exceeding €2.5 billion. A €10 billion offer would theoretically allow the Crown Prince to gain total control of the club.

However, FC Barcelona's website Barca Universal writes that such a transaction faces structural hurdles. Clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid are owned by their socios (members), making full takeovers legally and practically complicated.

"Barcelona as an entity is owned by its socios or members, who would never allow the club to be acquired by a foreign entity. This is something that is highlighted by Gallardo as well. Although the Saudi Arabian Investment Fund can technically invest in Barcelona if the club splits its entertainment arm, that won’t allow PIF to gain control of the club’s day-to-day operations," the club's site added.

By Khagan Isayev