Barcelona Face Registration Race for Rashford Before La Liga Opener

Barcelona president Joan Laporta admitted Marcus Rashford may not be registered in time for the August 16 opener against Mallorca due to La Liga’s Financial Fair Play rules. A dispute over Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury status was resolved, allowing Joan Garcia’s registration, but other signings still face uncertainty until the end-of-August deadline.

As the new La Liga season approaches, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has admitted there is uncertainty over whether new signing Marcus Rashford will be registered in time for the club’s opener against Mallorca on August 16. The issue stems from La Liga’s strict Financial Fair Play regulations, which require Barcelona to free up salary space before registering new players. While Laporta remains optimistic, he acknowledged that the process may not be completed before the first match, though the club has until the end of August to finalise registrations.

A major breakthrough came with the resolution of a dispute involving captain Marc-André ter Stegen. The German goalkeeper, recovering from a back injury, had initially refused to certify a long-term absence, blocking the registration of new goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Ter Stegen has now signed the necessary medical document, allowing Garcia to be added to the squad.

Laporta praised Ter Stegen’s leadership, noting his 12 seasons at the club, Champions League victory, and strong connection with fans. Barcelona are working to register Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, along with other signings before the deadline. The club hopes the cleared path for Garcia’s registration will be the first step toward fully reinforcing the squad ahead of the new campaign.